Human Smugglers: Migrants

Canada Dept: The criticism came after the government announced that it was rounding up 85 migrants who crossed into Canada illegally on five separate occasions with the help of human smugglers. The smuggling took place between February and October, according to Montreal Gazette. The designation means that any smugglers among them could face mandatory minimum sentences and increased fines if convicted. Under the new laws, migrants over the age of 16 could also face detention while authorities establish their identities and ensure they are not inadmissible on criminal or other grounds and the Opposition accused the government Wednesday of turning a grave border-security problem into a showcase for its tough new refugee laws. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney travelled to the Quebec border crossing in question to reveal that the migrants had, for the first time since the new Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act was adopted in June, been designated as "irregular arrivals." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.