Immigration Minister Excludes Some as Potential Rush of Asylum Seekers From US Looms

November 12, 2024 TruthUSA

Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that the Canadian government is committed to collaborating with the incoming Trump administration to address illegal immigration. He emphasized the importance of individuals seeking to immigrate to Canada through legal means in a “regular pathway.”

“We will always prioritize the national interest in our actions and ensure that our borders are secure. We want people coming to Canada to do so through legal channels, while also recognizing that not everyone will be welcomed here,” Miller mentioned in a recent interview with The Globe and Mail.

Miller dismissed speculations about the potential impact of the incoming president’s plans on Canada.

Following his victory in the U.S. election, Donald Trump pledged to carry out the “largest deportation operation in American history” upon assuming office in January. With an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants residing in the U.S., constituting around 3 percent of the population.

Trump appointed former Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Tom Homan to oversee the deportation operation, emphasizing the possibility of deporting families together and the necessity of worksite immigration enforcement.

The RCMP expressed concerns about a potential surge in illegal border crossings into Canada due to mass deportations in the U.S. Consequently, the RCMP has developed contingency plans, such as identifying officers for border enforcement and securing logistical assets to manage an influx of migrants.

Near the beginning of Trump’s first presidency in 2017, illegal immigration by Haitians to Canada increased following the administration’s decision to end their temporary protected status. Many claimed asylum at the “irregular” Roxham Road border crossing into Quebec, as the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the U.S. contained a loophole where it was only illegal to make a refugee claim at an official border crossing.

In March 2023, Canada and the United States announced changes to the Safe Third Country Agreement, which led to the closure of the Roxham Road border crossing.

During a press conference on Nov. 6, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland sought to assure Canadians that the government has control over the 9,000-kilometre border.

“We absolutely recognize the importance of border security and of controlling your own border, of controlling who comes into Canada and who doesn’t, and we will do that,” she said.

Illegal crossings along the Canada-U.S. border have skyrocketed over the last several years, with border officials apprehending 189,401 illegal immigrants in 2023, compared to 27,180 in 2021. Canada’s population grew by four million people from 2020 to 2024 amid record-high immigration.

In October, the federal government announced a reduction in the number of permanent residents to be admitted into Canada over the next three years, with the targets falling from 500,000 new permanent residents in each of the next two years to 395,000 in 2025 and 380,000 in 2026. The number would drop further in 2027 to 365,000.

In January, Miller announced a two-year intake cap on the number of international student permit applications, bringing the number down from the approximately 560,000 student visas issued in 2023 to roughly 360,000 approved study permits for 2024. A total of 200,000 fewer international students were let into Canada this fall compared to last year, according to the immigration department.

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