On The Border... of Idiocy

I have visited Niagara Falls twice in my life and both times I was stunned by the shear power and majesty of the falls. It's a very strange person who can go there and say that they aren't affected by the falls in some way. Whether it is the roar, the mesmerizing flow of water over the edge to the rocks below or the beauty of the rainbow over the falls, there's just something about Niagara that draws you there. There's also apparently a draw to cross the border there as well. Now most everyone knows about the problems the US is having stopping illegal immigration from the south through Mexico, but now apparently some Canadians are trying it as well. I leave it to you to figure out which is more dangerous.

This past winter has been quite hard on the northern portions of the continent with Canada, New England and the surrounding regions getting dumped on in terms of snow. It wouldn't surprise me if portions of New York are still digging out from under the two-story snowfall they experienced early last month. As you can see from the picture included in today's blog, there were times when the cold weather affected the falls enough to create walkable surfaces along the edge of the falls as well. Apparently one ingenious soul decided that this was the best way to illegally enter the US from Canada.

Several nights ago, workers and police at a power station along the Niagara River were alerted to the screams for help of a 42-year old man (who has not been identified to the public). This gentleman was using a inflatable raft (the kind used in "Jaws") and an ice floe to cross the Niagara River. The idea seemed good in the beginning but the gentleman didn't realize that the thaw had begun and his little ice floe broke off and began the journey to the falls. Although there are gates meant to stop such makeshift 'boats' from heading to the falls, an object like an ice flow could very well have made it through. In this case, the man made it to within a mile of the falls and would likely have gone over in the dark pre-dawn hours had the station's intakes not caught him.

Although he is currently under arrest by Canadian Immigration Authorities, it gives you some sense of how desperate he must have been to enter the country from Canada. Having had friends and relatives who have immigrated to this country legally, I know how much of a pain it can be to go through the process the way you're supposed to. Crossing the border illegally seems like it would be much easier than waiting for the process to run its course. What puzzles me however is why this gentleman would choose to make his crossing along the Niagara River so close to the falls even if they were frozen. I am an adventurous person but even I don't think I would have attempted to cross the river that close to the falls, frozen or not.

This is the first such incident I have read about in a while. I don't think Canada is becoming a new haven for illegal immigrants entering this country but then again I could be wrong. Still, I hope this doesn't lead to calls for putting up walls and fences along the rivers and borders of the North. Still, at least it would mean one thing. If someone was again desperately trying to cross the river to get into the US from Canada (or vice versa) at least the gate would act as a barrier for any wayward border jumpers.