More asylum seekers crossing into Canada under new agreement

The 30-day border closure to non-essential traffic meant that irregular border crossers have been turned back, but now those who meet specific criteria are able to file refugee claims.

While the Safe Third Country Agreement has been set aside by both nations due to fears of coronavirus spread, this return to accepting refugee claims marks a restoration of that agreement.

The Safe Third Party Agreement is what governs asylum claims, and the idea behind it is that refugees and asylum seekers must request asylum in the first safe country they get to. This makes it hard for asylum seekers to request asylum at the land crossings between the US and Canada, since both countries are considered safe.

Before the border closures and lockdown measures, over 3,000 people crossed the Canadian border from the US at unofficial crossings. These were stopped by the RCMP. During this border closures, the RCMP have apprehended only five.

Irregular crossers will continue to be turned back, according to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. However, those who meet criteria to be asylum seekers, notably unaccompanied minors, their parents, stateless people who live in the US, and Americans in need of asylum, had been allowed in during the closure. This resulted in one asylum seeker during the closure so far.

Guest workers are being let in to help Canadian farmers, and some, like Sharry Aiken, an immigration law expert at Queen's University, thinks it makes no sense to keep out asylum seekers when others are being allowed in.

"On the one hand, we say that if you're a temporary worker coming to pick tomatoes you are welcome to come and stay, as long as you quarantine,” she said. “At the same time, we are going to say no to any prospective refugee claimant?”

Asylum seekers who have a relative in Canada are now again able to file for asylum status. There were 120 of these seekers this year prior to the border closure.

This small opening for refugees and asylum seekers marks a beginning to the ease of border restrictions.