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Armed robbery? Home invasion? How 'bout you stay in the U.S. OK?

NEWS RELEASE CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY ************************* The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) facilitates the entry of legitimate travellers and goods, while protecting the safety and security of Canadians and ensuring that Canada'

NEWS RELEASE

CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY

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The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) facilitates the entry of legitimate travellers and goods, while protecting the safety and security of Canadians and ensuring that Canada's borders are not used for illegal activity.

This work is carried out by CBSA border services officers (BSOs) who ensure that the people, goods and conveyances entering Canada meet all requirements and are compliant with Canadian law.

In June 2014, CBSA officers at the Sault Ste. Marie port of entry (POE) processed 135,510 travellers in 80,017 vehicles, representing an 11-percent increase in travellers and a six-percent decrease in vehicles from June 2013.

More than 311 international travellers entered by bus.

Immigration highlights

In June, officers at the Sault Ste. Marie POE conducted more than 766 immigration interviews resulting in 19 Visitor Records, 52 Work Permits, and eight Temporary Resident Permits.

In 40 cases, individuals decided to voluntarily withdraw their applications to enter Canada.

On June 10, a U.S. resident sought entry into Canada and was referred for an immigration interview.

During the interview, officers discovered that the traveller had convictions for armed bank robbery, accessory after the fact, a probation violation, malicious destruction of personal property of $100 or less, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, domestic violence, assault or assault and battery and home invasion.

The individual was counselled and advised that she has to apply for a waiver before she can come to Canada.

She was allowed to withdraw her application to enter Canada and she returned to the United States.

On June 15, a U.S. resident arrived at the POE and was referred for an immigration examination.

Officers determined that the traveller had been convicted of domestic violence on three different occasions, the delivery/manufacturing of marijuana and had three Driving Under the Influence convictions.

Officers also discovered that the traveller had attempted to enter Canada on four separate occasions in the past and was denied entry.

The traveller was advised that if he attempts to enter Canada again, he will be arrested and held for an admissibility hearing, and face a possible deportation.

Certain foreign nationals who do not meet the requirements to overcome their criminal inadmissibility may be allowed to enter Canada with a one-time only fee-exempt temporary resident permit.

For more information, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Web site at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2012/ob389.asp.

Customs highlights

In June, CBSA officers conducted approximately 3,341 secondary examinations for customs purposes or on behalf of other government departments, initiated six seizure actions, one arrest and issued additional written warnings for undeclared or undervalued goods.

On June 6, a U.S. resident was coming to Canada to go to his seasonal residence.

The vehicle was referred for a secondary examination.

Upon examination of the vehicle, officers discovered that there were many undeclared items that were for the traveller’s seasonal residence.

The total of all the undeclared goods was $641.

The goods were seized for non-report and were released upon payment of a $160 penalty.

Had all the goods been properly declared, the traveller would have paid approximately $83 in taxes.

On June 15, a Canadian resident and a U.S. resident arrived at the port of entry and were referred for a secondary examination.

During the search, many undeclared horseback riding items, including boots, training whips and stirrups were discovered.

The items, totalling $2,284.33, were seized for non-report and were released back to the Canadian resident upon payment of a $571.08 penalty.

Had all the goods been declared at their proper value, the traveller would have paid approximately $296.

Travel Tips

The CBSA reminds travellers to truthfully declare all purchases and goods received outside of Canada upon their return.

Smuggling, undervaluation and other Customs Act offences may lead to seizure and/or prosecution in a court of law.

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