Refugee advocates, federal officials and immigration lawyers in Canada are preparing for a possible influx of asylum seekers following an executive order from U.S. President Donald Trump this week.
But as they prepare, they all say they have no idea exactly what will happen.
“It’s hard to clear the crystal ball because of President Trump,” said Gabriela Ramo, former president of the immigration section of the Canadian Bar Association.
“We border elephants, and elephants are talking about deporting 11 million people.”
On Monday, President Trump signed a series of executive orders that could have far-reaching implications.
- Eliminate birthright citizenship for people born in the United States whose parents were in the country illegally or temporarily.
- Strengthening border security.
- Increase enforcement of immigration laws, including the promise of mass deportations of millions of immigrants.
- Suspend U.S. refugee assistance programs.
- Only male and female gender identities are accepted.
Aleks Dagman Manzoor, co-executive director of the Vancouver-based Rainbow Refugee Association, said the Canadian organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ refugees has received more than 900 inquiries since President Trump was re-elected. He says there is. The group does not yet know how many of them will apply for refugee status in Canada, fearing Trump’s policies will fuel transphobia and jeopardize their safety.
Dagman Manzoor said American citizens can simply travel to Canada and apply for refugee status once in the country.
However, under the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States, non-citizens or undocumented immigrants who attempt to apply for asylum at regular border crossings risk being turned back to the United States. be. They may instead attempt to cross undetected and remain hidden for 14 days in order to apply for asylum without being deported to the United States.
Dagman Manzour said the Rainbow Refugee Association plans to create a video to help people with questions about applying for asylum in Canada.
Ramo agrees that President Trump’s executive order on gender may lead some people to head to Canada.
“I think this sends a signal to the transgender community and the LGBTQ community that they may face a difficult time in the United States, even in states that are generally supportive of the LGBTQ community.” she said.
Ramo said it will be interesting to see how the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada judges these applications, especially those for U.S. nationals.
“That’s going to test the system,” Ramo said.
Ramo said President Trump appears to be picking up where he left off four years ago, albeit in a harsher tone.
Immigration lawyers say that when President Trump last cracked down on H1B visas for foreign workers (visas given to skilled workers in professions such as information technology and science), many companies were forced to hire talented foreigners. He said he had arranged for someone to be sent from Canada.
But Ramo said Canada’s recent cuts to visas for temporary foreign workers could make that “near-shoring” even more difficult.
Ramo is also concerned that job cuts announced by the Federal Ministry of Immigration could increase the time it takes to obtain a work permit.
President Trump’s plan to deport millions of people means that some people, especially those who qualify for the Safe Third Country Agreement exception because they have family in Canada, will be given other options, such as heading to Canada. She said that means there is a possibility of exploring . Even if a small number of people come to Canada and apply for asylum, it could disrupt the country’s already overwhelmed refugee system, she said.
Immigration Minister Mark Miller said his department has not yet seen a surge in people trying to enter Canada to apply for asylum, but is prepared.
“We are prepared for any eventuality,” Miller told Radio-Canada outside the Cabinet Recreation Center in Montebello, Que., on Tuesday.
“If people come here, if they come in an irregular way, that’s not the right way and they will be turned away in accordance with the safe third country agreement that we have with the United States.”
Miller added that trying to cross into Canada between border crossings in the bitter cold of winter is dangerous.
He said the government does not expect large numbers of people to be deported to Canada and is closely monitoring measures being imposed in the United States.
“Canada is firm and fair. We will never be cruel,” he said.
Meanwhile, government ministries and agencies say they are making all possible preparations.
In December, the federal government announced plans to spend $1.3 billion to improve border security, including $667.5 million for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which patrols the Canadian side of the border, and $667.5 million for the Canada Border Services Agency. 355.4 million dollars. (CBSA) operates at ports of entry.
Sergeant Charles Poirier is the spokesperson for the RCMP’s eastern region, which includes the former unofficial Wroxham Road crossing into Canada. The area was also the site of many irregular border crossings from Canada to the United States last summer.
He said troops are being prepared in case Canada sees an influx of people trying to cross the border.
“We are ready at the border and have been preparing for the past few weeks,” Poirier said in an emailed response. “The number of migrants has decreased in recent weeks and we are not seeing any spikes. In the summer there were many people active every day, but lately it has been quite calm.”
“The most expensive taxi service in the world”
CBSA spokeswoman Rebecca Purdy said the CBSA works closely with Canadian and U.S. law enforcement partners, including the RCMP, other Canadian police services, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. said.
Purdy said the CBSA has plans to maintain operations in case there is an influx of asylum seekers.
“Depending on the scenario, CBSA’s mitigation plan may include additional resources at ports of entry, communications protocols, and collaboration with local law enforcement, emergency medical services, other government services, and U.S. partners.” she explained in an email response. “Authorities have also enhanced situational awareness and reporting to ensure they respond to activities and events that may impact operations.”
But Mark Weber, president of the Customs and Immigration Union, which represents border officers, said the government should allow officers to patrol between border crossings. Provincial police forces in places like Quebec and Ontario have begun monitoring the border, but Weber said provincial troopers are not trained to handle immigration and refugee cases and are forced to bring people they find to ports of entry. He said he would have to take him away. The official responsible for processing asylum applications.
“Between ports of entry, the taxi services currently being developed are like the most expensive taxi services in the world, with various agencies simply finding people and driving them, without any authority or knowledge of how to do it. We are very concerned that we will be left alone at the port of entry.”
Weber said some border areas are already understaffed, and the situation could worsen if civil servants are cut and Canada receives an influx of asylum seekers from the United States.
“We’re not ready for that potential volume. In the worst-case scenario, it’s going to be a little chaotic.”
