The narrative discusses the increasing number of immigrants crossing the U.S-Canada border, primarily from the southern U.S border into Canada. This trend has led to a crisis, with thousands of immigrants, many of whom entered the U.S intending to cross into Canada, being stranded in Northern U.S cities like Buffalo, New York, and Portland, Maine.
The immigrants, mostly from Mexico, crossed into the U.S without documents, and many were detained while trying to cross the border. If detained, they can now be deported to their country of origin, which is more challenging than before. At the same time, appointments at ports of entry for asylum applications have increased, taking in around 1,450 people a day.
The closure of Roxham Road, a common path for migrants to cross into Canada, was a result of talks between the U.S and Canada. The number of immigrants using the U.S as a transit country to get into Canada had increased tenfold from the previous year. In 2021, only 4,000 immigrants entered Canada through official border crossings, but this number increased to 40,000 in 2022, setting a new all-time record.
The closure of the U.S-Canada border for immigrants seeking asylum was announced via executive order, but it has faced opposition. The Canadian government has been criticized for erecting an "invisible wall" to block out asylum seekers, similar to a wall erected by the Trump Administration for asylum seekers.
Human rights groups and other civil society organizations in Canada have sued the government for violating parts of Canada's Charter of Rights. The Supreme Court of Canada unanimously upheld the Safe Third Country agreement between Canada and the U.S, making it illegal for refugees to seek asylum in the U.S.
In Portland, Maine, the closure of the border has created a bottleneck situation, with many immigrants stranded. The immigrants, mostly from Angola, Congo, and Southern States like Texas, Arizona, and California, were transported North on buses offered by conservative Governors to make a point. They are now forced to start their asylum process in Portland, creating a crisis.
The narrative ends with a call for housing for families and individuals, and emergency shelter for both populations. It also points out the need for a change in the broken immigration system.
1. Immigrants have been crossing from the U.S into Canada in record numbers in the past year .
2. Thousands of immigrants that have already entered the US with Canada in mind are stuck on the streets of Northern U.S cities like Buffalo, New York, and Portland in Maine .
3. These migrants lived in Mexico under poor conditions until they had enough and crossed over to the United States, most of them without documents .
4. If someone is detained trying to cross the border between ports of entry, they can now be deported to their country of origin .
5. The number of people applying for Asylum at ports of entry is quite large, taking in a thousand four hundred fifty people a day .
6. The lane separating the US and Canada is the world's longest and protected international border, with around 100 official ports of entry and many unofficial crossings .
7. The closure of roxham Road in April, along with all official border crossings, came after months of talks. The reason was an increase in the number of immigrants using the US as a transit country to get into Canada, which had increased tenfold from the year before .
8. In 2021, only 4,000 immigrants entered through official border crossings into Canada. Just one year later in 2022, 40,000 immigrants entered Canada from the U.S using official border crossings, an all-time record .
9. Official Crossing points between Canada and the US have been strictly regulated by a treaty known as the Safe Third Country Agreement .
10. Under this agreement, immigrants seeking Refugee status must first make their claim in the first safe country they arrive in, which would be the U.S .
11. Unofficial Crossing points like ruxham Road used to represent the loophole in the regulation .
12. The Canadians do not want to be the Americans, especially on immigration, which has been kept out of politics for the most part .
13. The complete closure of the U.S Canadian border for immigrants seeking Asylum was issued via executive order .
14. The Canadian government has erected an invisible wall to block out Asylum Seekers .
15. Human rights groups like Amnesty International, the Canadian Council for refugees, and others have sued the government for violating part of Canada's Charter of Rights .
16. The Supreme Court of Canada has unanimously ruled to uphold the Safe Third Country agreement between Canada and the United States .
17. The fight to reopen the Border continues, with protesters demanding that Canada sets an example and goes back to a more humane immigration policy .
18. In Portland, the largest city in Maine, many immigrants are stranded as the border is closed .
19. The helpers like Mike Guthrie who manage several shelters in the city are finding it very difficult due to the situation .
20. Most of the immigrants here are from Angola, Congo and from Southern States like Texas, Arizona, and California .