St. Lawrence River. Image credit Wikimedia Commons
Confirmation of the identities of the eight migrants whose bodies were retrieved this week from the waters off the Mohawk Territory of Akwesasne, straddling the Canada – U.S. border, Akwesasne Mohawk Police say is in process with Immigration Canada and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The bodies recovered Thursday and Friday, police said Friday, were of two families of Romanian and Indian origins, including two dead children, who were likely trying to enter the U.S. illegally.
They were discovered as the result of a search for another missing person, Casey Oakes, who was last seen Wednesday night operating a boat.
No direct connections have been made by the Police between the deaths of the eight migrants and a missing 30-year-old Akwesasne resident Casey Oakes found Thursday next to the bodies of the migrants.
Straddling the Canada-U.S. border, with parts of the territory in Ontario, Quebec and New York state, Akwesasne’s unique geography, say Authorities makes it a popular spot for human smugglers.
Since January Police had made 48 separate interceptions involving 80 people trying to enter the United States illegally.
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