[Karah Rucker]
CANADA IS BRACING FOR A POTENTIAL RISE IN BORDER CROSSINGS, AS THE RE-ELECTION OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP THREATENS TO FUEL A SURGE IN ASYLUM SEEKERS. THIS COMES AS TRUMP REITERATES HIS PLAN TO DEPORT MILLIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS UPON TAKING OFFICE IN JANUARY. BUT WHAT IMPACT WILL THIS HAVE ON CANADA’S BORDERS?
ROXHAM ROAD NEAR HEMMINGFORD, QUEBEC, BECAME A POPULAR ROUTE FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS IN 2017, AS THOUSANDS CROSSED INTO CANADA SEEKING REFUGE. BUT IN 2023, THAT CHANGED, WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE SAFE THIRD COUNTRY AGREEMENT, CLOSING THIS ROUTE FOR GOOD.
THE CHANGE FORCED MANY ASYLUM SEEKERS TO USE OFFICIAL ENTRY POINTS, SUCH AS AIRPORTS AND LAND BORDERS. BUT WITH TRUMP NOW PROMISING MASS DEPORTATIONS IN THE U-S… MANY FEAR CANADA MAY SOON SEE ANOTHER INCREASE IN ARRIVALS… THIS TIME IN MORE REMOTE AND DANGEROUS AREAS… AND SOME WARN THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO A RISE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE ARE ON HIGH ALERT AS AUTHORITIES MONITOR THE SITUATION. THEY’RE PREPARING FOR ANY SCENARIO, WHETHER IT’S A TRICKLE OF PEOPLE OR A MASSIVE INFLUX.
CANADA’S IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS ALREADY UNDER STRAIN, WITH DELAYS IN PROCESSING WORK PERMITS AND ASYLUM CLAIMS. IMMIGRATION POLICY EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT WHETHER OR NOT TRUMP FOLLOWS THROUGH ON HIS DEPORTATION PLANS… CANADA WILL NEED TO HAVE A BROADER DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO MANAGE THESE CHALLENGES IN THE COMING YEARS. SOME EXPECT TO SEE THE NUMBER OF UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE RISE BY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.
CANADIAN OFFICIALS AND REFUGEE ORGANIZATIONS ARE PREPARING FOR WHAT COULD BE A DIFFICULT WINTER. WHILE THE FULL IMPACT OF A POTENTIAL SECOND TRUMP PRESIDENCY IS STILL UNCLEAR, MANY ARE BRACING FOR A SHIFT IN MIGRATION PATTERNS THAT COULD AFFECT CANADA’S BORDER POLICIES FOR YEARS TO COME.
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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M KARAH RUCKER.