Illegal Immigrants Rounded Up In Southern Ontario Special

After an intensive three-month investigation the Canadian Border Services Agency conducted simultaneous raids on businesses and homes in Bradford, Leamington and Toronto. Over 70 foreign nationals were arrested.

Calling it "the largest such operation in the GTA Region", the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced on Friday that following the search of several homes and businesses, over 70 people had been arrested. The detained individuals were all alleged to be in violation of Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). CBSA is reporting that one criminal warrant was executed by their Criminal Investigations Division. The raids were a joint operation between the CBSA and South Simcoe police officers. Bruce Davis, who is the Police Chief of the South Simcoe force, told the Barrie Examiner that the raids were conducted not only to uncover immigration violations but to also to uncover abuse of illegal workers, "and possible human trafficking." Saying that this was "only the first stage of the investigation", Davis declined to outline any specific charges. The chief added: "Many of the people taken into custody today are themselves victims." The three business that were targeted were the Cericola Processing plant, Cericola Farms, and an employment agency. All three businesses are located in Bradford, Ontario and the plant processes chickens. Those who were arrested and detained were transported by bus to detention centers located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). As with most hot-button issues, there are two sides to this story. The CBSA does have a job to do and part of their mandate is to administer legislation that governs the admissibility of people and goods, plants and animals into and out of Canada. There are those, however, in the community at large who disagree with what the CBSA did. The social activist group no one is illegal, toronto, organized an Emergency Action at the Heritage Detention Centre in Toronto. No One Is Illegal (Toronto) is a group of immigrants, refugees and allies who fight for the rights of all migrants to live with dignity and respect. Over 100 demonstrators gathered on Rexdale Road in northwestern Toronto to protest the Canadian government's "racist immigration" policies that target what they believe is the "migrant community", and arresting, detaining and deporting them. Chanting "Justice for Immigrants; Freedom for Refugees" and "We didn't cross the border ... the border crossed us", several speakers highlighted the plight of the detainees held inside the detention center, demanding their immediate release and an end to the Canadian government's brutalization of migrant workers.

In this economic crisis, companies are hiring us to save money. In my case, I've no work permit. I need to send money for my children to go to school. That is why I have to work. There are so many like me in this country, more than a million. Why not a regularization program so we can pay taxes. Many of us are skilled and qualified and could help the country at the same time as we send the money back home.

This quote was from a detainee named Henry (no last name given) who was caught up in the sweep on Thursday, arrested and was being housed in a Detention Center, possibly awaiting deportation. While some see last week's action as targeting and terrorizing a marginalized segment of society, there are others who would read the above quote and come to a completely different conclusion. "Henry" is not only staying in Canada illegally, he does not have a work permit, does not pay taxes on his earnings, and according to him, sends the Canadian dollars that he is earning back "home" to educate his family, thereby denying Canada's educational system those dollars. Canada already has a Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program. In 2004, around 19,000 seasonal migrant workers were given permits to come to Canada (most of them to farms in the southern Ontario region). Author's Note: A special thanks to Digital Journal Citizen, Helena Handbasket for bringing this issue to my attention.