Canadian taxpayers spend $30k to rescue involuntary US immigrants – report

Canadian services reportedly spent nearly $30,000 to save and return home 1,500 Americans, who went from being floating partygoers to illegal immigrants after being taken across the border by cruel waters.

“This amount includes overtime costs and additional expenses including fuel and provisions for the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Limnos, the on-scene command vessel and several fast rescue craft that were used to assist Float Down participants who were in distress or urgent situations," coast guard communications adviser Carol Launderville told CBC News.

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Northern exposure: Canada politely returns accidental US refugees

Michigan’s Port Huron Float Down took place on August 21 and saw thousands of people aboard inner tubes and other inflatable rafts, floating on the St. Clair River. But some drifted too far. About 1,500 people ended up in Canada, near the city of Sarnia.

"There were people in places you'd never think something would float, but there were Americans everywhere," Peter Garapick of the Canadian Coast Guard told CBC News the day after the event.

The American fun cost the Canadian Coast Guard an estimated $21,700, while the city of Sarnia said it spent another $8,181 to return Americans home on 10 Sarnia Transit buses.

It was earlier reported that it took 19 Sarnia Transit buses six hours to return everyone back to US Customs and Border Protection.

The total rescue tally has so far reached $29,881, but it does not include amounts of cash spent by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada Border Services Agency.