MONTREAL—For many asylum-seekers crossing from the United States into Canada, Roxham Road in the small Quebec town of Hemmingford represents the first steps of a potential new life.
But their journey is just beginning as they start to navigate the complicated process of seeking status in Canada.
In recent weeks, more and more people have flowed illegally across the border into Canada as U.S. President Donald Trump moves to crack down on illegal immigration and imposes new restrictions on refugees. As well as Quebec, the border community of Emerson, Man., has also seen a sharp increase.
The asylum-seekers’ tactic is a way to avoid the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, which prevents most people who have been living in the United States from making a refugee claim at an official border crossing on the premise they are already somewhere safe.
By crossing illegally, they’re able to make that claim in Canada.
“In some cases, these people have family or friends in the community in Montreal, in other cases they‘ll head to Toronto or they’ll go to organizations that deal with asylum-seekers like the YMCA,” said Montreal immigration lawyer Stephane Handfield.
