The federal government is preparing for the possibility of another surge of asylum seekers at the Canada-U.S. border in Quebec with Donald Trump in office, aiming to rent space to process those attempting to cross. I am.
Trump threatened to deport millions of undocumented immigrants as president. On Monday, Trump sweep enforcement.
Canadian refugee advocates, federal departments and immigration lawyers say they are bracing for a potential influx.
call for bids Posted on WednesdayPublic Services and Procurement Canada said it aims to lease office space within 15 kilometers of the border in Saint-Bernard-des-Lacolle, Quebec, “to serve as an administrative center for our clients.”
The space “must be sufficiently large to provide the necessary equipment, facilities, and infrastructure to safely accommodate office space, reception areas, food sales areas, and waiting areas with a capacity of 50 to 200 people.” the listing states. . It must also “allow for bus circulation and parking.”
Arrivals spiked in 2017, a few months after Trump took power for his first term in office.
Starting that summer, thousands of people crossed into Canada. It was mainly on the Roxham Road, not far from the border of Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle. A temporary processing center has been set up for the arrivals.
These buildings will be demolished in 2023 after Canada and the United States modified their Safe Third Country Agreement, expanding the terms to cover the entire land border rather than formal crossing points.
The changes now allow immigrants to claim asylum in another country only once if they have close family members living there or if they are undetected for 14 days after crossing.
‘We are preparing for all eventualities’: Immigration Minister
Immigration Minister Mark Miller said earlier this week that his department has not seen an increase in people trying to come to Canada.
“We’re prepared for any eventuality,” Miller told Radio-Canada on Tuesday.
“The people who are coming here, if they come irregularly, that’s not the right way to do it, and they will be subject to the safe third country agreement that we have with the United States.”
The number of asylum claims across the country has fallen sharply in recent months, according to data provided by the Canada Border Services Agency.
Since September last year, regardless of the point of entry into Canada, whether by land or air, Canadian officials have reported an increase in requests per day, compared to an average of 212 requests per day during the same period a year ago. We counted an average of 109 requests. for the agency told Radio-Canada.
The government listing is for a 12-month period starting in May 2025, with the option to renew for four additional periods of three months each.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday launched his sweeping immigration crackdown, deploying the U.S. military to help secure the border, broadly issuing asylum and restricting citizenship for children born on U.S. soil. We have taken action.
