Asylum Seekers

What prompted this post about Asylum seekers came one day when I heard on the news that the border crossing Roxham Road was being closed. Roxham Road was a makeshift custom border crossing between the U.S. and Quebec and was run by RCMP officers. Often the news would show clips of dozens of people walking to this crossing, carrying all their humble belongings in the hopes of having a better life. The whole vision almost looked illegal, but that was ruled out because of the RCMP presence. Just the sheer magnitude of numbers was concerning to me. I knew I needed to learn more about this process and the best way to do that for me is to blog about it. 

After spending considerable time searching on google, I was overwhelmed with information. Every now and then, I like to make a knowledge-based post and this will be one of them. Here is what I have learned. 

Roxham Road was a rural Quebec road that was used as an unofficial crossing by migrants entering Canada from New York to apply for asylum. Under the Safe Third Country Agreement, signed by the U.S. and Canada in 2004, asylum seekers must make their claim at an official border crossing in whichever country they arrive in first. A loophole in that agreement meant that migrants who first arrived in the U.S. but aimed to stay in Canada were able to enter Canada via unofficial locations like Roxham Road. Roxham Road was closed in March when the "Safe Third Country Agreement" was revised, and the loophole was closed. Anyone intercepted trying to cross there will now be returned to the U.S., rather than being allowed to stay in Canada. In return for closing the loophole, Canada agreed to allow 15,000 more people from the Western Hemisphere to migrate to Canada legally. Apparently, 11,000 immigrants are to arrive in Canada from the U.S.

I watched a news clip where asylum seekers are now arriving at the Toronto airport. I am assuming their sponsors are paying for their flight, but I'm not sure. Sadly, in many cities the immigrants are now having to live on the streets. The housing crisis is so large that as they wait for a home the street is the only option. It is reported that Canada has waved certain eligibility requirements for visitor visa applicants. The applicants do not have to have sufficient funds but will demonstrate that they will leave Canada when their visas expire. 

From January to September 2023, The Canada Border Service Agency processed over 26,000 asylum claims at airports, an increase of 54% since 2022. Overall, Canada has processed almost 60,000 asylum seekers looking to take refuge. The increase is being explained by multiple factors. One is processing the backlog of asylum applications. According to experts the number of global conflicts and crises is rising. This is resulting in the increased number of people seeking asylum not just in Canada, but anywhere they can find it. 

On June 9, 2023 it was announced that 100 million people around the world have been forced to flee violence, conflict, persecution and human rights violation. To get refugee status is a very long process that can take years. Refugees are afforded international protection by other countries because it is too dangerous for them to return home. I met a man that said he and his family spent 12 years in a Syria refugee camp before they were sponsored to come to Canada. He has sponsored as many people as he can on a wage he makes as a nurse's aid. He said his family always has sponsored people living with them until he can get them set up to live on their own.  

A new Prime Minister was elected in Denmark. He is being identified as the new Donald Trump. Among other radical changes, he will not allow any asylum seekers into his country. He is blaming them for the lack of housing. I understand the face of Europe is changing. One night the news showed hundreds of refugees being rescued off the shores of Spain. They were from Africa and the numbers of African refugees that have arrived in Spain in the last 10 months is 31,000. 

                                        

I am going to be honest and admit, I am struggling with this information. I have always said that we need to look after the people in our country. That for me, means anyone that was born in or has immigrated to Canada. I can't get my head around the sheer magnitude of the numbers fleeing their own countries and what that must feel like. How can the host countries continue to handle the demands of helping so many asylum seekers? Terror and violence are something I know I will never understand. It seems there is nothing that can be done to lessen the violence in the countries that people are fleeing from. I am sure the asylum seekers want to live in their own country, but in a safe manner. They have come to Canada for a better life, and they will get it.  

I have been writing this post for some time. I needed to finish it and publish it. It seemed that as I would check my information, there was more information. By writing this it has reminded me of how grateful we should be to live in a safe country like Canada. I can't imagine living in a country that is at war or is so violent that you must leave with nothing. The news clips of people escaping their countries are almost like a fictional movie. The bottom line here for me is, I will never take for granted how totally blessed I am to be Canadian and to live in such a wonderful country like Canada.