THUNDER BAY – The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) facilitates the entry of legitimate travellers and goods, while protecting the safety and security of Canadians and ensuring that Canada’s borders are not used for illegal activity. This work is carried out by CBSA border services officers (BSOs) who ensure that the people, goods and conveyances entering Canada meet all requirements and are compliant with Canadian law.
Here are some highlights of immigration and customs enforcement activities for October at the Pigeon River Border Crossing south of Thunder Bay.
CBSA officers at the Pigeon River port of entry (POE) processed 38,667 travellers in 20,609 vehicles, which represent a seven-percent decrease in travellers and a six-percent decrease in vehicles from October 2013. More than 1,741 travellers entered by bus.
Immigration highlights
Officers at the Pigeon River POE conducted more than 549 immigration interviews resulting in 15 Visitor Records, six Work Permits and three Temporary Resident Permits. In 22 cases, individuals decided to voluntarily withdraw their applications to enter Canada.
On October 18, a U.S. resident was seeking entry into Canada and was referred for an immigration examination. During the interview, the individual admitted to being convicted for assaulting a peace officer in the U.S. Due to the traveller’s criminality, he was deemed inadmissible to Canada and was allowed to withdraw his application to enter Canada. The traveller returned to the United States.
On October 26, a U.S. resident arrived at the POE seeking entry to visit his girlfriend. The traveller was referred for an immigration examination. During the exam, the traveller admitted that he was convicted three times of driving while impaired in the U.S. The individual was found to be inadmissible due to his criminality and was allowed to withdraw his application to enter Canada. He returned to the United States.
Customs highlights
CBSA officers conducted approximately 3,314 secondary examinations for customs purposes or on behalf of other government departments initiated two seizure actions, two arrests, and additional written warnings were issued for undeclared or undervalued goods.
On October 1, a U.S. resident arrived at the POE in a motorhome seeking entry into Canada. The traveller was referred for a secondary examination. During the examination of the motorhome, officers discovered an undeclared .382 calibre firearm concealed under clothing in a drawer. Ammunition was also found in the same drawer. The woman was arrested for smuggling a firearm into Canada and released on a US$400 recognizance. Her next appearance in Thunder Bay court is scheduled for January 2, 2015.
Travel Tips
The CBSA reminds travellers to truthfully declare all purchases and goods received outside of Canada upon their return. Smuggling, undervaluation and other Customs Act offences may lead to seizure and/or prosecution in a court of law.
Certain foreign nationals who do not meet the requirements to overcome their criminal inadmissibility may be allowed to enter Canada with a one-time only fee-exempt temporary resident permit. For more information, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
