In response to new policies that have expanded the categories of immigrants who are eligible for deportation from the United States, thousands of immigrants have crossed the U.S.-Quebec border—many illegally—to avoid removal proceedings.
According to the Toronto Sun, Canadian immigration authorities do not have the resources to process all of the new arrivals. Before the influx, the initial vetting process typically happened within the first 72 hours of entering the country, but the wait time has extended beyond one month.
In January 2017, there were only 245 asylum claims and interceptions in Quebec, according to the Government of Canada website. That number increased to 655 in March and then jumped to a staggering 2,996 in July.
Montreal's Olympic Stadium Has Been Converted into a Shelter for Asylum Seekers
In January, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his openness to accepting refugees when he tweeted, “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada.” However, according to Reuters, immigration ministry spokesman Louis Dumas recently clarified that seeking asylum in Canada does not guarantee permanent residence.
Immigrants Are Crossing the Canadian Border Illegally Due to the Safe Third Country Agreement
The Safe Third Country Agreement between the United States and Canada stipulates that refugee claims must be made in the first safe country where asylum seekers arrive. Pursuant to this agreement, asylum seekers cannot pass through one safe country and make a refugee claim in another.
To avoid the consequences of the Safe Third Country Agreement, at least 10,000 migrants have crossed the U.S.-Canada border illegally.
July ICE Raids Are Believed to Have Contributed to the Recent Migration
From President Trump’s travel ban to proposed bills that would cut both legal and illegal immigration, it goes without saying that U.S. immigration policies have become much tighter over recent months. To many in the immigrant community, the pinnacle of these crackdowns happened in late July when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained 650 people in raids that targeted the family members and sponsors of unaccompanied children who arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border. About 70 percent of those detainees were “non-targets,” essentially meaning that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
