Canadian police and migrant support organizations are bracing for a possible surge in asylum-seekers heading to Canada as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to re-assume office in the United States.
This comes as Canada faces record-high refugee claims and aims to control immigration levels. Trump’s recent election victory, with a focus on launching a significant deportation campaign, has raised concerns among Canadian authorities over a potential spike in border crossings. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have been planning for this scenario for months, according to RCMP Sergeant Charles Poirier.
“A few months back, we recognized the need for a contingency plan, anticipating that his return to power could lead to an increase in unauthorized and irregular migration into Quebec and Canada,” Poirier told Reuters.
Poirier explained that, in a worst-case scenario, a large number of people could cross into Canada. “If we were to see 100 individuals crossing the border each day, it would place a considerable strain on our officers, who would need to cover vast areas to make arrests,” he said.
In Trump’s initial term in 2017, thousands of asylum-seekers crossed the Canadian border outside official checkpoints, often at Roxham Road near the Quebec-New York border.
However, Roxham Road is no longer a viable entry point due to a bilateral agreement between Canada and the U.S., which now applies to the entire 4,000-mile border. This agreement requires that asylum-seekers attempting to cross outside official checkpoints be turned back unless they meet specific exemption criteria.
Now, individuals attempting to enter Canada undetected must evade authorities and remain hidden for two weeks before seeking asylum—a risky and challenging approach, as highlighted by immigrant advocates. “When legitimate pathways aren’t available, or only extreme measures are needed to access safety, people are forced into dangerous situations,” said Abdulla Daoud, director of The Refugee Centre in Montreal, which supports migrants.
As pressures increase, Canadian police remain on “high alert,” ready to allocate additional resources if needed. This preparation includes the potential deployment of hundreds of extra officers, increased patrols, chartered buses, and temporary facilities near the border. “Our focus is on the border right now,” Poirier noted. “We’ve been on high alert since just before the election and expect to stay vigilant in the coming weeks,” emphasizing the heightened tension among Canadian police as Trump’s strict immigration policies loom.
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