In response to Donald Trump’s (short-lived) ban on immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tweeted that Canada’s borders were open to asylum seekers.
He may regret that.
According to Canada’s state media, more than 400 refugees a month are crossing the border between the U.S. and Canada, most headed for the “sanctuary city” of Toronto. The refugees are using Manitoba and Quebec border crossings.
Asylum seekers cannot remain in Canada long-term if they come through an official border crossing, like the one at Windsor, Ontario, unless they have documentation. But thanks to a loophole in Canada’s immigration laws—and a welcome mat rolled out by Canada’s prime minister—most who make it to Canada through unofficial crossings are allowed to stay for a while.
Canadian immigration attorneys attribute the spike to President Trump’s executive order limiting travel to and from seven majority Muslim countries (an order that is now stayed, pending either litigation or reformatting).
“You’re seeing a direct correlation between the rise in refugee claims and the new administration’s policies,” lawyer Eddie Kadri told CBC. “Absolutely, there’s no doubt.”
In January, 433 people declared themselves refugees seeking asylum, 150% more than last year. And that doesn’t include “undocumented” border crossings—particularly those people who cross into Canada legally using a passport, but then never return to the United States.
Toronto says 813 people officially petitioned for refuge in January.
The asylum seekers seem to be people who would not be able to stay in the U.S. legally if immigration laws are more strictly enforced, and people who may want to travel back and forth between countries the U.S. has designated as state supporters of terror, like Iran and Syria.
But just because Trudeau supports an open-borders immigration policy doesn’t mean Canadian law enforcement officials are as thrilled. Canada’s Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodall is supposed to meet with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly this week, and he says border crossings will definitely be on the table.
“They need to be fully informed of the circumstances that Canada is dealing with for international reasons,” Goodall told Canadian media. “But the very obvious one is that this flow is originating in their country and they need to be fully apprised of the consequences that we’re dealing with on our side of the border.”
Given that the Trump Administration is looking to offload more immigrants, it’s unlikely Goodall’s arguments will be very persuasive.