The movement of asylum seekers from New York State to Quebec has increased since Canada lifted its epidemiological restrictions in late 2021, a trend that mirrors global displacement.
More than 39,000 refugees entered Canada last year through unofficial crossings, mostly via the Wroxham Road, which connects Quebec and New York state. The number of entries in Quebec last year more than doubled compared to 2017, when Wroxham Road made international headlines.
Nearly 5,000 more asylum seekers entered Canada through official border crossings last month the highest total for January since the Canadian government began breaking out the data in 2017. That 2017 spike was fueled in part by US President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration.
Canada is a signatory to the International Refugee Convention, under which Canada is required to adjudicate most refugee claims with limited exceptions. The definition of refugee in the Convention is limited, and Canadian law contains exceptions to who can access Canada's refugee protection.
The federal government says it has relocated more than 5,800 asylum seekers out of Quebec since June. A spokeswoman for Canada's minister of immigration, refugees, and citizenship said in a statement Tuesday that the government is working with communities outside of Quebec on a pan-Canadian approach that would include resettling refugee claimants elsewhere.
Legault also called on Canada to press the US to rewrite the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) - which Canada says it is doing.
Under the STCA, any asylum seeker attempting to cross the Canada-US border will be turned away at an official border crossing and asked to apply for asylum in the first of two countries they arrive in, with few exceptions.
Canada wants to rewrite the deal so it can turn back asylum seekers arrested anywhere at the border — not just at formal crossings.
The deal is that people seeking to claim refugee status in Canada enter the country through Quebec's Roxham Road: otherwise, they can come to Canada at any US border crossing.
Twice, the Federal Court of Canada has struck down the treaty and twice the Court of Appeal has upheld it. The latest case was argued in the Supreme Court of Canada last fall and a ruling is expected next month.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Trudeau said his government has been trying to close Wroxham Road for years by rewriting the STCA.
The challenge is 'Oh, we should stop this.' The challenge is how to stop that, how to make sure people don't choose to cross into Canada irregularly, to preserve the integrity of our immigration system but also to stay true to the values that we have.
Abdallah Daoud, executive director of Montreal's refugee center, says bureaucratic delays are the real problem with the influx of asylum seekers.
If we move them to another province, we're not really solving anything, Daoud said, adding that community organizations will still be overwhelmed because asylum seekers lack the necessary documents to work and access some government services.
Daoud said his organization has seen many recent immigrants arriving from Latin America, many saying they are fleeing persecution.
Refugee advocates argue that scrapping the agreement altogether or making additional concessions, would allow asylum seekers to enter Canada at regular border crossings elsewhere in the country, not just at Wroxham Road, thus reducing pressure on Quebec.
On Tuesday, opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilivre called on Trudeau to close Wroxham Road. Poilievre cited an Epidemic policy under which Canada turned back crossings between ports of entry for asylum seekers, a policy that was challenged in court when it was withdrawn.
But refugee advocate Maureen Silkoff said, sealing the border is not realistic. It's not in anyone's interest for people to take dangerous routes to arrive and cross undetected.
Post a Comment