Canada Stresses It's Not Place For Migrants in US Losing Protection to Flee

As the Trump administration has moved to tighten the country's borders, causing an unprecedented influx from the U.S. of asylum seekers to Canada, Ottawa has altered its policy towards immigrants, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

When President Donald Trump started to enact a ban on travelers from some Muslim-majority countries in January, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent out a tweet reflecting his country's openness to refugees.

To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2017

But now that some 7,000 asylum seekers from the U.S. have reached Canada in the last two months alone and the potential for many more to follow, Ottawa has been intent on clarifying its own rules — those who arrive in Canada can be deported back to their country of origin, and if someone has been denied asylum in the U.S., he is unlikely to receive it in Canada.

"We remain unwavering in our commitment to offer protection for those determined to flee war, persecution or terror," Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussen insisted to the Journal. "But there is a lot of false information in those communities. Not having or losing status in the U.S. is not grounds for an asylum claim."

Canada is particularly concerned that the Trump administration won't renew special protections for almost 60,000 Haitians to remain in the U.S. granted as their country recovered from a devastating earthquake in 2010, once a six-month extension runs out in January, meaning large numbers might seek to reach Canada

In addition, the Trump administration's aim to end the "Dreamers" program could increase even more significantly those in the U.S. seeking refuge in Canada.

Canadian immigration lawyers warned Vice that many Dreamers would find it very difficult to qualify under any of the programs in Canada which permit even a temporary visa.

Ironically, Canadian officials have been conducting outreach efforts to migrants in the U.S. warning them that Canada is unlikely to accept them, similar to the efforts the American government made in Central America in recent years to warn families not to illegally enter the United States, according to the Journal

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