Border services arrest man posing as high school basketball player in Windsor

WINDSOR, Ont. – Border service officials say they’ve arrested a South Sudanese man who was allegedly posing as a teenager in Windsor, Ont.

The Canadian Border Services Agency says Jonathan Nicola was arrested this week for contravening the Immigration Refugee Protection Act.

The agency alleges Nicola misrepresented “material facts” on his application for a study permit to Canada.

It says Nicola allegedly submitted an application with a date of birth of Nov. 25, 1998 — which would make him 17.

But, the agency says when Nicola recently applied for a U.S. visitor visa, a fingerprint match determined he was an individual who had made a previous application to the U.S. using a date of birth of Nov. 1, 1986 —making him 29.

The CBSA says Nicola is currently being detained and is set to have a detention review before the Immigration and Refugee Board next Tuesday.

Nicola was attending Catholic Central High School in Windsor and played on the school’s basketball team.

A spokesman with the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board wouldn’t comment directly on the case but says a “rigorous” system is in place requiring all international students to present valid government documentation — including passports and study permits — before they can be enrolled in any one of its schools.