Canada Finds Truck with 44 Migrants: “A Scene of Horror,” Says Police

Truck carrying 44 Haitian migrants

Scene of horror in Canada

Deportations after border crossing

According to EFE, a border operation in Canada has uncovered a new human trafficking case that has shocked the nation.

In early August, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers discovered 44 migrants locked in inhumane conditions inside a truck with no ventilation.

According to official statements, the discovery came after the migrants crossed the border on foot from the United States, guided by smugglers known as “coyotes.”

The migrants—mostly of Haitian origin—walked for hours through forests and wetlands before being forced into the truck on Canadian soil.

Police Describe a Scene of Horror

Among the group were a four-year-old child and a pregnant woman, heightening alarm over the humanitarian risk of the case.

RCMP Corporal Érique Gasse described the discovery as “a scene of horror.”

“When our officers opened the door, we were told the people began to breathe properly,” Gasse told The Gazette in Montreal.

The migrants had been locked inside the vehicle for several hours without enough air, in a truck designed for cargo, not people.

Haitian Migrants Face Deportation

Haitian migrants found in truck in Canada – PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Authorities arrested three suspected human traffickers involved in the operation.

The arrests took place near the border following a coordinated investigation between Canadian agencies.

Police indicated that several of the migrants would be deported back to the United States, where they had entered illegally.

This case adds to growing concerns over the increasing flow of irregular migration between the U.S. and Canada in recent months.

Migrant Pressure Rises After Reelection

Haitian migrants found in truck – PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Organizations working with refugees in Canada have warned of a sharp rise in Haitian asylum seekers.

The trend coincides with Donald Trump’s reelection as U.S. president and his renewed crackdown on immigration.

In June, the Trump administration began the process of terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 500,000 Haitians.

This means hundreds of thousands of people could face deportation in the coming months, despite having lived legally in the U.S. for years.

Illegal Crossings Through Dangerous Routes

The uncertainty caused by that decision has led many families to seek refuge in Canada, seen as more welcoming to humanitarian migration.

However, irregular crossings through forests or remote areas carry serious risks to migrants’ health and lives.

“Walking at night through swamps with children, not knowing if help awaits on the other side, is a desperate gamble,” said a volunteer from an NGO supporting asylum seekers.

The Canadian government has reiterated that crossing borders at unauthorized points remains illegal and dangerous.

Haitian Migrants Vulnerable to Criminal Networks

It has also reminded the public that those who cross illegally are subject to detention or deportation if they do not meet asylum criteria.

Even so, figures show increasing pressure along border zones, where reports of human trafficking have surged.

Canada and the United States signed the Safe Third Country Agreement in 2004, which requires asylum seekers to request refuge in the first safe country they enter.

This effectively prevents individuals arriving in the U.S. from then seeking asylum in Canada—except under limited exceptions.

Humanitarian Controversy After Border Rescue of the Haitian Migrants

Nonetheless, many migrants—especially Haitians—are opting for illegal routes to avoid being sent back.

The discovery of the truck has sparked outrage over the inhumane conditions vulnerable individuals were subjected to.

It has also reignited debate over the role of traffickers and the shared responsibility between governments.

For Canadian authorities, the case shows that criminal networks are exploiting the desperation of those fleeing poverty and persecution.

Special Care for Rescued Children

As deportations in the United States increase, there are fears that more people will turn to dangerous means to escape the country.

Humanitarian organizations have urged the Canadian government to strengthen legal asylum channels and provide more resources to border communities.

Meanwhile, the group of rescued migrants remains in custody and under medical evaluation, awaiting the outcome of their immigration proceedings.

The child and the pregnant woman are receiving special care, according to official sources.