Indian Family Among Eight Dead In An Attempt To Cross Canada-US Borders Illegally: Officials

After trying to cross illegally into the United States, eight people from two families- one of Romanian descent with Canadian passports, the other from India were found dead in a march near the Canada-US border, the police said.

Official Statements

In a press conference, a local deputy police chief, Lee-Ann O’Brien said that their bodies were discovered late Thursday near a capsized boat belonging to a missing man from the Akwesasne Mohawk community.

The official also said that the deceased include six adults and two children the age of three.

She said, “All are believed to have been attempting illegal entry into the US from Canada.”

A second infant whose passport was recovered from one of the bodies appears to also be missing and police dive teams were continuing to search, the local deputy police chief said.

The Mohawk tribal territory straddles the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario and the US state of New York.

During the aerial search of the area, the first body was found, the official said.

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Autopsy reports awaited

Moreover, the officials are waiting for the autopsy as well as toxicology test results to determine the cause of death.

O’Brien noted a recent “increase in people passing through Akwesasne gaining entry into the US,” with 48 crossings since the start of the year.

Once landing on the US side, they are typically picked up on shore and transported by vehicle into New York State, she said.

‘Heartbreaking situation’

While reacting to the incident, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, “This is a heartbreaking situation. We need to understand properly what happened, how it happened and do whatever we can to minimize the chances of this ever happening again.”