At Coutts, Alberta, illegal immigrants were apprehended; they are no longer

At Coutts, Alberta, illegal immigrants were apprehended; they are no longer in Canada.

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In early February, a group of people from Colombia and Venezuela were arrested at the Canada-U.S. border. According to additional research, Canadian authorities turned over all of the illegal immigrants to the enforcement and removal operations unit of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Nine people—four adults and five children—were detained under Canada's Customs Act and turned over to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), according to the federal division of the Alberta RCMP on February 3. The group crossed the border near Coutts, Alberta, at around 6:15 a.m. that day, according to officials. The people were carrying bags, according to the RCMP. The day's temperature, according to historical meteorological data, was -28 C, but a wind chill made it feel more like -33.

Identities protected by law The CBSA, when asked for details about the individuals, said that all of their information was protected by legislation. "An individual's border and immigration information is considered private and protected by the Privacy Act," said Luke Reimer, CBSA spokesperson, in an email to CTV News. Reimer says border security and integrity is a shared responsibility between the CBSA and RCMP. "The CBSA is responsible for enforcing the law at designated ports of entry in Canada, and the RCMP is responsible for enforcing Canadian legislation between ports of entry. Both the RCMP and local police have the authority to intercept persons crossing between ports of entry and bring them to a designated port of entry." The RCMP did not release any further details about the individuals either, saying, "The CBSA is responsible for determining the admissibility of every individual seeking to enter Canada and would be the appropriate agency for questions relating to that."Illegal immigrants caught crossing at Coutts, Alta., are no longer in Canada.Nine people were taken into custody after they crossed the Canada-U.S. border near Coutts, Alta. on Feb. 3, 2025. A group of individuals apprehended at the Canada-U.S. border in early February were from Venezuela and Colombia, CTV News has learned.Further investigation has determined all the illegal immigrants were turned over by Canadian authorities to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement and removal operations unit.On Feb. 3, the federal division of the RCMP in Alberta said nine individuals, four adults and five youths, were arrested under Canada's Customs Act and handed over to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).Officials say the group walked across the border near Coutts, Alta., at approximately 6:15 a.m. that day.RCMP said the individuals were carrying suitcases. Historical weather data from the day recorded a temperature of -28 C, with a wind chill making it feel more like -33.Identities protected by law the CBSA, when asked for details about the individuals, said that all of their information was protected by legislation."An individual's border and immigration information is considered private and protected by the Privacy Act," said Luke Reimer, CBSA.

spokesperson.Reimer says border security and integrity is a shared responsibility between the CBSA and RCMP."The CBSA is responsible for enforcing the law at designated ports of entry in Canada, and the RCMP is responsible for enforcing Canadian legislation between ports of entry. Both the RCMP and local police have the authority to intercept persons crossing between ports of entry and bring them to a designated port of entry."The RCMP did not release any further details about the individuals either, saying, "The CBSA is responsible for determining the admissibility of every individual seeking to enter Canada and would be the appropriate agency for questions relating to that."The Coutts border crossing in Coutts, Alberta, is shown on Wednesday. 'Illegal aliens' no longer in Canada Reimer says it is illegal to cross the border between ports of entry and "it is not safe.""Travellers wishing to enter Canada must present themselves to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at a designated port of entry. Failure to report to the CBSA upon entry into Canada is a serious offence and may result in penalties or charges."In the case of the individuals who crossed on Feb. 3, no penalties or charges were laid by Canadian authorities—they were instead turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol."The illegal aliens were turned over to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by CBSA at the Sweetgrass port of entry," said CBP spokesperson Jason Givens."CBP processed the individuals and turned them over to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations."CTV News has reached out to ICE for comment on the situation and any further details about the current whereabouts of the apprehended individuals.Traffic is backed up as several vehicles wait for entry into the U.S. from Canada at the Sweetgrass port of entry. CBP data for the Havre Sector, the region that includes the Sweetgrass, Mont., port of entry, includes all encounter data from apprehensions, inadmissible, and expulsions."Inadmissibles refers to individuals encountered at ports of entry (POEs) by the Office of Field Operations who are seeking lawful admission into the U.S. but are determined to be inadmissible, individuals presenting themselves to seek humanitarian protection under our laws, and individuals who withdraw an application for admission and return to their countries of origin within a short timeframe."Apprehensions refer to the physical control or temporary detainment of a person by USBP between POEs who is not lawfully in the U.S., which may or may not result in an arrest."In January, 19 single adults and three individuals in a family unit attempting to enter the U.S. met this criteria.In all of 2024, 100 people were given one of those statuses.Asylum seekers in Canada.
According to the Government of Canada, 35 people claiming asylum were processed by the CBSA in Alberta in January. Twenty-five of those came in through airports, while 10 arrived at land crossings.Individuals claim asylum, or protection, because it is not safe for them in their home country. Common justifications include "a well-founded fear of persecution," the possibility of torture, the possibility of losing your life, or the possibility of harsh or unusual treatment or punishment.The province with the most asylum claims in January was Quebec (1,325), followed by Ontario (885).That month, there were 2,465 asylum seekers in Canada (including inland offices).Only seven asylum seekers were detained by the Alberta RCMP in 2024, with the biggest number (four) taking place in November.In 2024, the CBSA handled 900 asylum requests in Alberta, the bulk of whom (520) came through airports.The number of asylum seekers living in any Canadian province or territory is not represented in this data.

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