Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that an investigation is needed behind the death of eight people who died after having tried to illegally enter the United States from Canada.
“There is not just dismay, there is heartbreak at what happened to these families,” Trudeau said. “It is something that as governments and as Canadians we need to continue to do everything we can to keep people safe, and particularly the most vulnerable.”
The statement was made in response to concerns voiced by refugee and immigration defence organisations, who claimed that the deaths were caused by Canada's tough border rules.
Bodies of six persons from the two families were found in a marsh in Akwesasne, a Mohawk territory between the US-Canada border, on March 30. Two more were discovered on the next day. The Indian family was identified as Praveen Chaudhary (50), his wife Diksha (45), his son Meet (20), and his daughter Vidhi (24). Their identity was confirmed by their relatives in Gujarat.
Since January, roughly 80 people - the majority of whom are of Indian or Romanian ancestry - have attempted to enter Canada or the US illegally through Mohawk territory, according to the Akwesasne Police.
On March 23, Canada and the United States amended an agreement which expanded their authority to expel asylum seekers who cross the nations’ shared border at unofficial points of entry, according to the media.
Roxham Road, a smuggling route along the Canadian border with the United States, had also been closed. The closure of Roxham Road, in the opinion of refugee activists and organisations, may result in an increase in similar accidents.