Canadian minister is preparing for an expected increase in migrants crossing its border following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent announcement that his administration will conduct mass deportations when he takes office. Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, issued a stark message to potential asylum seekers, saying that “not everyone is welcome” and reiterating Canada’s commitment to secure borders.
As the United States prepares for a major immigration crackdown, the impact may push many undocumented individuals toward the Canadian border. Trump has promised an aggressive deportation policy, with plans to remove millions of people considered public safety risks. These announcements have sparked fears of a repeat of past migrations, like the surge of Haitian migrants into Canada during Trump’s first term. Canada’s federal police are developing strategies to manage a potential uptick in border crossings, with plans “several months” in the making.
A Shift in Canada’s Immigration Tone
Marc Miller’s recent comments reflect a shift in Canada’s stance on asylum seekers. In 2017, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared that “Canadians will welcome” those fleeing persecution. Yet Miller now emphasizes that people must arrive through “a regular pathway,” signaling a move toward stricter immigration control. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of border security.
Migration experts have expressed concerns over Canada’s more stringent policies. Audrey Macklin, a law professor at the University of Toronto, argues that Canada is focusing on “preventing people from escaping to our country” rather than fulfilling its obligations under the Refugee Convention, which mandates protection for individuals with well-founded fears of persecution.
Safe Third Country Agreement: A Barrier for Asylum Seekers
Canada’s approach to immigration is shaped by the Safe Third Country Agreement, a pact with the United States that restricts asylum claims at official border crossings. Under this agreement, asylum seekers must request protection in the first safe country they enter, allowing Canada to turn back claimants arriving from the United States. This policy forces many to take dangerous, unmonitored routes to enter Canada undetected, often relying on smugglers.
Recent adjustments to the agreement have made asylum claims even more difficult. Now, asylum seekers must remain undetected in Canada for 14 days before they can request refugee status. According to Macklin, this requirement is pushing migrants into the arms of smugglers. “Canada and the United States have created a market for smugglers by making it impossible to ask for refugee protection at a port of entry,” she says. “Now people are going to have to pay the smuggler to hide them for 14 days.”
The Human Cost of Restrictive Immigration Policies
Experts argue that policies like the Safe Third Country Agreement put migrants at risk, as they navigate treacherous conditions to avoid detection. “If anybody actually cared about harm to asylum seekers… they wouldn’t force them into a system where they’re required to use the services of smugglers,” Macklin states, pointing to the dangers of the current policy framework.
The Canadian government’s response to Trump’s immigration policy reflects what Macklin describes as an “entirely predictable outcome of a deliberate, intentional policy” aimed at restricting asylum claims. As Canada continues to tighten its borders, the pressure on those fleeing persecution is only expected to grow, with many migrants facing limited options.