Frostbite, hypothermia risks in freezing Quebec woods highlight deadly dangers of irregular migration
Havelock, Quebec – December 26, 2025 On Christmas Eve, Canadian authorities detained 19 migrants of Haitian origin, including young children, after they illegally crossed the U.S.-Canada border into Quebec’s Montérégie region near Havelock, approximately three miles north of the New York State line.
The crossing took place amid bitterly cold winter conditions, underscoring the life-threatening risks migrants face during irregular border entries in extreme weather.
A Frigid Night-Time Rescue Operation
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) received an alert from U.S. Border Patrol shortly before 6 p.m. on December 24. Integrated Border Enforcement Team officers from Champlain and Valleyfield quickly mobilized, locating an initial group of 15 individuals hiding in a wooded area by around 7 p.m.
The search continued for hours in sub-zero temperatures until approximately 10:30 p.m., when the remaining members were found.
The group ranged in age from 1 to 60 years old, including several young children — among them a 3-year-old. Eight individuals required immediate hospital transport: six for frostbite treatment and the two youngest children as a precautionary measure. Authorities confirmed the children’s conditions stabilized and their lives were not in danger.
Asylum Claims and an Arrest
All 19 migrants have since applied for asylum in Canada. Their cases are now under review by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
In a related development, officers arrested one man under Section 117 of the Customs Act after determining he was in the area to pick up several migrants. His vehicle was seized, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Ongoing Dangers at the Border
The RCMP reiterated strong warnings about the extreme hazards of irregular crossings, especially in winter. Migrants are often unprepared for prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures, snow-covered terrain, and remote wooded areas — conditions that can quickly lead to hypothermia or frostbite.
This incident is the latest in a series of asylum-seeking crossings along the Quebec-U.S. border, where Haitian nationals have figured prominently in recent years. Fluctuating U.S. immigration policies, ongoing instability in Haiti, and fears of deportation have driven many to seek refuge northward, even at great personal risk.
While Canada has historically processed thousands of such claims — many successfully — authorities continue to emphasize that irregular entries endanger lives and that legal pathways, though slower, are far safer.
The Haitian diaspora in Montreal and across Canada has expressed concern for the group’s well-being while acknowledging the desperation driving such journeys.
As processing continues, the Christmas Eve crossing serves as a stark reminder: for those fleeing hardship, the road to safety can be as perilous as the circumstances they leave behind.
L’Union Suite sends thoughts of strength and warmth to the families involved. We will monitor updates on their asylum cases and any further developments.
