Border agents make arrests at Lev Tahor community

CHATHAM-KENT — The Canadian Border Services Agency has made a series of arrests at the Jewish, ultraorthodox Lev Tahor community compound near Chatham, Ont.

A spokesperson for the CBSA said Wednesday afternoon that the Enforcement and Intelligence office of the agency for the southern Ontario region “executed a number of warrants” for suspected violations under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

The spokesperson said the raids began in the morning when officers, aided by local law enforcement and representatives of the local Children’s Aid Society, attended several locations on the site and placed a number of people under arrest. A number of children were also taken into the care of the CAS. All those arrested will be processed under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and detained.

Uriel Goldman, a board member and community elder of Lev Tahor, reacted with indignation to the arrests. Speaking from Toronto, at mid afternoon, he said that information provided to him from the compound indicated the investigation seemed to be still in progress with officers on site.

He believed between five and seven people were arrested in the raid. He added the community was “shocked” by the authorities’ actions.

“On Sunday night we were confirming a time and a meeting,” he said. “But all of the sudden, they come with a raid. I don’t have the exact number (of those arrested) because I can’t confirm it. It’s still going on. I don’t know the charges.”

However, he alleged, the action makes it appear the group was targeted for harassment.

“Why raid our community? There is no evidence of abuse. It’s discrimination, it does not smell good,” he said.