'We're willing to step up,' says Emerson reeve after emergency meeting

The reeve of Emerson, Man., says an emergency meeting Thursday with members of theCanada BorderServices Agency andMounties has relieved concerns he had after a recent surge ofrefugees into the border town.

"Now we know the protocol if we get an influx of people," saidGregJanzen. "The governments have been very supportive in this whole issue."

According to the Canada Border Services Agency, 403 people entered Canada near the town in nine months last year, up from 340 in the 2015-16 fiscal year and 68 in 2013-14.

Last weekend, 22 people made the journey 19 on Saturday and three on Sunday according to the RCMP.

• 22 refugees entered Manitoba near Emerson
• Border town seeks help after spike in refugees

There was confusion in the community of 671 people about the protocol when a large groupof refugees jumps the border, he said. Last weekend Emerson utilized emergency measures and opened its community hall to house the unexpected surge of newcomers.

"We didn't know where we stood as a municipality," said Janzen."Was there a safety risk for us?"

Emerson member of the legislature CliffGraydonechoed the concerns and said constituentshave also reached out to him with safety worries.

"They're very, very concerned about the refugees coming at this time of yearand walking across the field when it's 35 with the wind chill, and are they dressed properly and so on and so forth," he said.

A pair of Ghanaian refugees whomade the journey on foot in Decemberlost most of their fingers to frostbite.

"They don't want to find anybody froze to death out there,"Graydonsaid. "That's the big concern to the local people."

Janzensaid his concerns were allayed when RCMP told him they screen refugee claimants.

"We never talked risk factor to our people, but now we understand how the process is being done so that makes it more reassuring,"Janzensaid.

• Hundreds of asylum seekers entering near Emerson
• Refugees frostbitten after walking to Manitoba border

If a large group of refugees crossthe border again, theCBSAwill rent Emerson's community hall to house them, he added.

"If we're needed we're willing [to] step up. We're not turning them away," saidJanzen.

Leaving U.S. not criminal: RCMP

RCMP say theyareadding resources along the border near Emerson, butit's not the responsibility of the police to stop border jumpers.

"People leaving the United States is not a criminal act," saidRCMPmedia relations officer TaraSeel.

It is, however, the RCMP's responsibility toscreen individuals caught after they have crossed the border, she said.

Police rely onpatrols, 911 reports and surveillance technology to catch border jumpers, including asylum seekers, she said. Those who claim refugee statusare taken to theCanada Border Services Agency for further processing.

"We have no concerns whatsoever," saidSeel. "We are well-prepared to handle any threats at the border."

Not a 'free-for-all'

Rita Chahal,executive director of the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council, also met with Emerson officials along with members of the CBSA and RCMP Thursday.The council runs Welcome Place,a home for refugees in Winnipeg.

She brought the town 10 care packages containing bedding and toiletries for refugees who may enter the town in the future.

Chahal saidthere are sufficient security checks to ensure safety and that Manitobans are generally willing to open their doors to refugees.

• Helping freezing refugees 'not at all uncommon'

"We have to trust the systems that are in place," she said.

"I think that they need to know that, you know,people who are being processed are being vetted by Canadian Border Services. People are not being allowed in free-for-all."

Read CBC'sfull coverage of refugees crossing the U.S. border into Manitoba