RCMP officers waited for them on the other side and swiftly, but gently, took them into custody.
Asylum-seeking Syrian family crosses into Quebec from U.S. in -15C weather
The Syrian family is among the hundreds of asylum seekers who have crossed illegally into Canada from the U.S. in recent weeks.
"They bring whatever they can carry," said François Doré, a retired provincial police officer who lives three kilometres from the New York border and has watched dozens of asylum seekers cross over in the last week.
"They're crossing the border with the kids, holding hands, carrying them, pushing strollers."
But what happens to the asylum seekers after they step onto Quebec soil?
From RCMP to IRB
As was the case for the Syrian family on Saturday, many are met by the RCMP. Both witnesses and immigration lawyers say the Mounties in Quebec don't tend to treat the asylum seekers as criminals.
The vice president of the Quebec Immigration Lawyers Association, Eric Taillefer, said the RCMP recognizes these people are vulnerable and treat them in a way which reflects that.
Asylum seekers fleeing U.S. face further hurdles here
He said not only Canadian law enforcement is looking out for these asylum seekers.
"I've even seen cases of border agents in the United States showing the way to claimants," Taillefer said.
"I guess there's a sort of pity on their part."
22 refugees entered Manitoba near Emerson border over the weekend
When an asylum seeker is picked up by the RCMP after illegally crossing the border, they face two possible options.
If they have valid identification, they are brought to a Canada Border Service Agency office to be processed
The CBSA said 452 asylum seekers filed a claim in their Quebec offices in January alone.
But if the claimants don't have any official identification because they only have fake IDs or no IDs at all, Taillefer said, they are put in detention for identification purposes.
He added that on average, they are freed after two weeks.
Shelter and guidance at a YMCA
After they make their refugee claim, asylum seekers have 45 days before they go before an Immigration and Refugee Board tribunal to explain why they can't return to the country of origin.
In the meantime, many are housed at the YMCA Residence on Tupper Street in Montreal.
Pascal Altorre, director of the residence, said it saw occupancy peak in December and January, when about 260 people were housed there.
During the time they spend in the residence the claimants are given clothes, food and support.
"They get guidance on how to prove that they are really in danger and really asylum seekers," Altorre said.
He added that the residence has plenty of volunteers helping them but that they could always use winter coats and boots, as well as financial support.
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