Six Iraqis have been arrested for illegally crossing the border from the United States into Quebec's Montérégie region, the RCMP has confirmed.

Eric Walsh, a veal farmer in Dundee, says he spotted an Iraqi migrant on his property yesterday and called police (Thomas Daigle) The six were spotted by a farmer in the town of Dundee, Que., near the U.S. border on Wednesday.

The farmer came across three men and three women walking on his land, which runs along the border.

One of the women was pregnant.

According to RCMP Sgt. Luc Thibault, the six told the farmer they were from Iraq and asked him to call police.

Quebec provincial police arrested the individuals and handed them over to the RCMP.

Thibault said once it was determined they had illegally crossed the border, the file was transferred to Canada Border Services Agency.

Neither the Sûreté du Québec nor the CBSA has replied to interview requests.

Headed to Toronto?

Dundee Mayor Jean Armstrong said provincial police called her Thursday morning to alert her of the arrests.

"It concerns our citizens in Dundee especially the older individuals and maybe somebody living alone," she said.

Dundee Mayor Jean Armstrong said provincial police called her Thursday morning to alert her of the arrests of six Iraqis who crossed the U.S. border into her town. (CBC/Sarah Leavitt) "When they hear about all this, it makes them nervous."

Several Dundee residents reached by CBC said they had noticed an increase in police patrols.

Quebec Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil said the six were attempting to get to Toronto.

"It's unusual to see them coming [across] the border, and it's not the right way," she said.

"Somehow, they are getting advice that this is the best way to go."