My Champlain Valley – by Rebecca Reese
Plattsburgh, NY – Thousands of immigrants are going through the Plattsburgh area to illegally cross the border into Canada. They’re expecting to able to stay and have a better life, but it may not be the answer to their problems.
Church members, activists and neighbors joined the group ‘Plattsburgh Cares’ at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Saturday morning. Plattsburgh Cares is a coalition against anti-immigration opinion.
Secretary and Communication Chair Michelle Ouelette said some people don’t realize how many immigrants come through the Plattsburgh area.
“Thousands of people are coming through the North Country to get into Canada,” Ouelette said.
In 2017, the North Country has been used as a route to Canada where immigrants illegally enter with the expectation of being welcomed thanks to a loophole in a U.S. Canadian agreement.
According to Ouelette, some crossing the border were being sent back to the United States, Immigration Services were called and deportation hearings were scheduled. In other cases immigrants had been arrested with the hope of staying in Canada, but soon learned healthcare and education are not available to them.
“They need to be really well informed when they cross because the consequences can be dire for them if they do not have the correct information–many of them don’t,” Ouelette said.
A group from Montreal called ‘Solidarity Across Borders shared what happens on the other side of the border. A representative from the group ‘No One Is Illegal’ Mac Scott also spoke.
Scott is a Canadian Immigration Consultant at a multi-ethnic law firm in Toronto. His message to Plattsburgh was that it is harder to migrate to Canada and the system is actually less fair than the United States. This is why Ouelette said it’s crucial to offer immigrant support and immigrant support training.
“They’ll get arrested on the other side,” Ouelette said. “There is a possibility that they might be able to navigate through that system with a great deal of hardship, but they need to be informed of what happens– what has happened to other so they can make educated decisions.”
The room was mainly populated by Plattsburgh Cares members who are well versed in the issue. However, there was a new face, Alison Lutz, who grew up in Plattsburgh and has just moved back home.
“My eyes were definitely opened,” Lutz said.
Lutz said she learned about the differences between the United States’ and Canada’s refugee and immigration systems. It inspired her to get involved and join Plattsburgh Cares.
“I think it’s really important to figure out where you can help and how you can help and branch into groups that are already doing that work,” Lutz said.
For those who would like to get involved and learn more there will be a second forum held.
Plattsburgh Cares’ “Our North Country Refugee Crisis” will be held on Sunday, October 22 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the E. Glenn Glitz Auditorium, Hawkins Hall on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus.
The panel will feature Mayor Colin Read, Immigration Lawyer David Gervais, a member of Solidarity Across Borders and Janet McFetridge, a Village of Champlain trustee who lives near the illegal entrance to Canada.
Hell. That’s what imma gonna do. Illegally immigrate to Canada via platsburgh. I guess I’ll have to leave my gunz behind. Lmao!
HELL…….. WAIT A COTTON PICKIN MINUTE!!!
IF I CAN HAUL ALL MY WEAPONS TO THE 30 SOMETHIN FLOOR OF A CASINO AND STAR FIRING, SURELY I HAVE THE WHEREWITHALL TO GET THOSE WEAPONS ACROSS THE CANNOKIAN BORDER. RIIIIGHHHTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT????????????????????????????