3 out of 135 recent asylum seekers deemed danger to the public, detained in Manitoba

Over a recent one-month stretch, three peopleintercepted by RCMPwhilecrossing into Canada on foot near Emerson, Man., were detained because they were found to be a danger to the public, Canada Border Services Agency officials say.

BetweenMarch 20 and April 16, 135 asylum seekers were found illegally crossing the border near the small Manitoba town.

Details released Wednesdayshow the number of asylum seekers crossing the border into the province is climbing.

In March, 170people were intercepted crossing into Manitoba up from19 in January and 142 in February,according Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

The union representing border patrol officers raised concerns about public safety last week, saying nearly half of the asylum seekers entering near Emerson in the last few weeks have some criminality in their backgrounds.

Data provided by the Canada Border Services Agency doesn't include numbers about asylum seekers with criminal backgrounds who were not detained.The CBSA does not keep statistics on asylum seekers with records who have not been detained.

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Jean-Pierre Fortin, national president of the Customs and Immigration Union, said border officers have been under increased scrutiny in recent months and will only detain an asylum seeker "as a last resort."

One of the recent detaineesallegedly assaulted a female officer on April 8.

Ahmed Aden Ali, who came to Canada via Minneapolis, was charged with two counts of uttering threats, mischief over $5,000 and assaulting a police officer.

Peoplecan only be detained at the border for three reasons: They're a danger to the public, they're unlikely to appear for a removal hearingor their identity can't be determined.

Border services officials said they didn't knowwhether the three people who were recently detained are still in custody. They may have been released by the Immigration Refugee Board on a promise to appear before the board for a removal hearing at a later date.

Someone can be deemed "criminally inadmissible" to apply for refugee status in Canadabut may still be released into the country on a promise to appear at a future removal hearing.

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