Helping freezing refugees 'not at all uncommon' in Manitoba border town

Residents of the border town of Emerson, Man. say they've lost count of how many refugees have crossed into Canada since Donald Trump's election victory in November.

Wayne Pfiel, a bartender and maintenance worker at the Emerson Hotel, said he has seen between 30 and 40 refugee claimants arrive in the smalltown, about 100 kilometres south of Winnipeg andjust north of the Canada-U.S. border, in the last few months.

• New numbers show spike in asylum seekers crossing from U.S. to Manitoba

When the claimants arrivetheir first concern is often to get warm,Pfiel said, so he'll offer them hot cup of coffee inside.

"They're kind of scared, just asking if they're in Canada," he said.

FrankSuderman, a longtime Emerson resident, said he and his neighbours are used to seeing people cross at the border, even in the dead of winter.

"To cross here is not at all uncommon," he said. "I wouldn't want to do it."

Frostbitten refugees on road to recovery

8 years ago

Duration 2:01

Two refugees from Ghana who walked into Canada during dangerous cold in December say it was worth the risk.

The border between Canada and the U.S. is a wide expanse offrozen prairie,with the odd tree and outbuilding hardly a place anyone would want to go for a long walk.

"About a month ago, about four people came in here. There was snow in their boots and they were all around the lobby taking off their boots and socks,"Pfielsaid.

• Frostbitten refugee will lose fingers, toe after 7-hour trek

Groups of refugees will sometimes even spend a night at the Emerson Hotel, he said. Others will arrive in the early morning and huddle up near the front door, waiting for it to open. Typically they are not dressed forfrigid conditions, saidPfiel.

He's not surprised by recent stories of refugees with severe frostbite injuries.Bitterly coldwindswhip fastaround the hotel and many refugees claimants walk for hours until they are sure they are in Canada.

"It's pretty sad,"Pfielsaid.

After refugees have had a moment to warm up,they usually ask to call the border patrol to report their arrival. An agent from Canada Border Services will then come pick them up and process their claim.

"They're not hiding," he said. "They're like everyone else, human beings. They want to start a new life."

• Refugees frostbitten after walking to Manitoba border