Jose Leos Cervantes, a Mexican living in Toronto, was found in critical condition on February 19 in Vermont near a border crossing. He is the second migrant to die this winter trying to cross the Canada-US border.
He was looking for a better life. But on February 19, he passed out in a freezing breeze before dying in hospital. The death of Jose Leos Cervantes, from Aguascalientes, Mexico, is not considered suspicious, local police confirmed in a statement. The 45-year-old had recently moved to Canada with his family.
PHOTO FROM JOSE LEOS CERVANTES FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
Jose Leos Cervantes
According to information made public, he collapsed after being spotted by American patrol boats not far from the Canada-US border. Newport Station Border Patrol officers spotted Mr. Cervantes, accompanied by two other people, a man and a woman, shortly before 11 p.m. “The group was suspected of wanting to enter the United States illegally. As soon as they saw the officers, two of them headed for the border while the third individual passed out,” confirmed US Customs and Border Protection spokesman Ryan Brissette.
The agents tried in vain to resuscitate the migrant, one indicates by press release. He died in a hospital center in Vermont. The exact cause of his death has not been specified.
Concerned residents
Authorities are stepping up patrols following a recent spike in migrants crossing the border, Stanstead residents interviewed by The Press.
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Stanstead Customs
Janis Smith lives right next to the fence that separates the United States from Canada.
“I spent my childhood here. I was there before the closing! “, she specifies.
She believes that those who cross in winter are in serious danger. “That’s why we notify the authorities when we see them. It’s not because we’re afraid of them, it’s that we’re afraid for them when it’s colder, ”laments Mme Smith.
It’s no surprise that she sees patrollers at all hours of the day. “Sometimes there are more for a while, so you know they are looking for someone. »
The crossing seems easy, but it can be perilous depending on weather conditions. “We hear about the dead, because it’s on the news. But there are surely some who cross injured or sick, almost in hypothermia. »
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Jose Leos Cervantes reportedly collapsed after being spotted by US patrol officers not far from the Canada-US border.
Three houses away, Jeff Flanders agrees. “I’m not surprised someone died. It’s sad, but I tell myself that even with more patrols, there would still be people to take this risk, because they have nothing to lose. »
He himself had to alert the authorities two years ago in February, when he saw a man crossing his neighbor’s backyard.
“They are not prepared for this”
On January 30, a migrant came close to death trying to cross the American border at Potton.
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
On January 30, a migrant came close to death trying to cross the American border at Potton.
He was trying to get to the United States from Estrie. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, his family contacted the authorities in the middle of the night to report him missing.
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Charlie Barnett
This does not surprise Charlie Barnett. The 77-year-old Potton-born farmer saw “at least six” people attempting the crossing.
“They wear summer clothes. Sometimes with small shoes, without socks, in the snow. »
The crossing is, in his opinion, arduous and inhospitable in winter. You have to walk a long way to find refuge, he adds. “If you’re hungry or thirsty or cold, it’s pretty hard here to find anything. They are not prepared for this, they leave in a hurry without bringing anything. »
A woman arrested
Maria Constante-Zamora, a woman from Equateur who lives in Connecticut, was arrested in connection with the incident, according to court documents obtained by The Press. She pleaded not guilty to one count of illegally transporting an individual, for which she faces five years in prison. Two other migrants were there at the time. One of them was apprehended by the police and is considered a witness in this case.