Last week, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department (SRMTPD) issued a press release stating that the illegal transportation of undocumented aliens through Akwesasne continues to be a problem — especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The release came on the heels of four arrests that were made by U.S. Border Protection on State Route 37 in Fort Covington on March 18th, 2020.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, their agents attempted to stop a vehicle suspected of smuggling illegal aliens, but as the vehicle slowed down, three individuals exited, and the driver sped up attempting to flee. Shortly after, the three occupants were apprehended, Pargat and Gurwinderpal Singh of India, and Mohan Sing of Italy. Meantime, the driver, Sabrina Mitchell, 38, of Akwesasne fled the scene and crashed her vehicle into several border patrol vehicles. Mitchell was also apprehended and charged with Alien Smuggling, a felony which carries a hefty fine and up to five years in prison.
All three individuals were found to be illegally present in the U.S., and allegedly entered illegally through Canada at the Saint Regis Mohawk reservation. All were also charged with Improper Entry by an Alien.
SRMTPD says during a time of this public health crisis and uncertainty, illegal trafficking exposes the community to additional risk.
Chief of Police for the SRMTPD, Mathew Rourke, issued a statement reiterating Tribal PD’s commitment to public safety. “I feel obligated to comment on the issue of trafficking undocumented aliens through our community. The issue is a public safety concern and it cannot be tolerated. I would also say to those responsible that you and your organization cannot be allowed to put the health, welfare, and safety of the rest of us as such a great risk.”
SRMT Police officials say that without proper verification and processing, there is no way to determine if illegal aliens possess any pathogen or communicable disease that could be exposed to the public.
“You and your organization do not know where these individuals have traveled from. You and your organization do not know if they have been exposed to the COVID-19 Virus. You and your organization are ruining the great efforts that our first responders and leadership are making to ensure public safety here in the community of Akwesasne, all in the name of selfishness and illegal profit,” stated Rourke.
The challenge posed by the COVID-19 crisis requires a substantial commitment to the health and safety of all Akwesasronon. Tribal PD says that this illegal activity must stop now — as it poses great risks to the community in terms of health and safety.
“The community of Akwesasne is at a very unique point in time, history will show that we did everything we could to protect our next 7 generations. Please stop these actions now, they not only affect you, they affect our entire community,” stated Rourke.
By: Regan Jacobs
