Efforts to boost security on the Canada-U.S. border brings a bad case of insecurity to a famously laid-back border town.

Stanstead hot spot for people smuggling
Border guards nab illegal immigrants
By TOBI COHEN, Postmedia News December 6, 2012

The Opposition accused the government Wednesday of turning a grave border-security problem into a showcase for its tough new refugee laws.

The criticism came after the government announced that it was rounding up 85 migrants who crossed into Canada illegally on five separate occasions with the help of human smugglers. The smuggling took place between February and October.

Once in Canada, the asylum seekers are freed in most cases from detention while their asylum claims are pending, a process that can take years. At the same time, they are eligible to receive public assistance benefits.
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Gypsies+take+complicated+route+through+Europe+Mexico+seek/7658225/story.html#ixzz2EJBiHgxu

Gypsies take complicated route through Europe, Mexico and US to seek asylum in Canada
By Wilson Ring And Rob Gillies, The Associated Press December 6, 2012 11:20 AM

In this Nov. 14, 2012 photo, Miguel Begin, the chief of operations for the Canada Border Services Agency’s Stanstead sector, stands at the Canadian port of entry in Stanstead, Quebec. Canadian immigration officials on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012 said a Romanian smuggling ring has been bringing Gypsies into the U.S. through Mexico in order for them to eventually gain asylum in Canada. Over the past year, cars loaded with ethnic Roma asylum seekers have run the border between Derby Line, Vermont and Stanstead. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

DERBY LINE, Vt. – A Dodge Caravan with California license plates and a dozen passengers zipped across the border between Vermont and Quebec in October, heading north in a southbound lane unblocked by traffic.