The Green Timberwolf

Illegal immigrants from the United States fleeing to Canada to seek refuge

By Maddy,  grade 11 geography student

Please note: Photo credits given at end of post.

Every day illegal immigrants from the states are coming to the borders of
Canada, specifically Quebec, and asking for refugee status because they will be sent back to their home country due to Donald Trump's rigorous immigration policies.

These refugees feel they will all be welcomed by Canada because of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tweet in January  2017  “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our  strength #WelcomeToCanada”. Conservative immigration critic Michelle rempel says Trudeau’s statement was misleading and he should make it clear to people wishing to come to canada that the asylum seekers risk being sent back to their country of origin if they illegally entered Canada.

I am not opposed to refugees. It is amazing that Canada accepted so many syrian refugees and it it does prove that the country cares for every human life, whether their Canadian or not. However we can not accept every illegal immigrant from the states. We don't have enough shelter and it will be difficult to find jobs for them. Where our economy sits now it would be difficult for our country to adjust to another big influx of people. Also with the minimum wage increasing the job market will become very competitive, adding more people will make finding jobs even harder.

That being said Canada is doing its best to accommodate as many refugees from the states as we can . Montreal's olympic stadium has been converted into a refugee shelter for these refugees from the states. The stadium is full, but approximately 150 new people are arriving every day seeking refuge. Canada has also set up a Haitian refugee camp out of tents, however processing will take months and the winter is coming.

Every asylum seeker is going through a strict screening process and will not get any advantages for receiving refugee status if they have already entered the country. The Canadian government is advising people stay in the states because canada can not accept them all.

There are RCMP stationed at the major illegal boarding crossing on the border of Quebec and New York. The people coming into Canada are warned it is an illegal boarding crossing and anyone who passes will be arrested. However these people are trying to get arrested in order to be taken into Canada and away from the United States.

The refugees from the states need to stop trying into Canada because we simply can't accept them all. However if Canada and the United States were to both accept these people into the countries, then no one would have to go back to a country they will not survive.

References

Haitian refugee camp photo

Clark Mindock New York. (2017, August 11). Canada builds Haitian refugee border camp but processing may lead to months of legal limbo. Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/canada-haiti-refugee-border-camp-us-processing-legal-limbo-justin-trudeau-immigration-a7887371.html

Cochrane, D. (2017, August 03). Waves of asylum seekers keep coming at illegal border crossing in Quebec. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/asylum-seekers-quebec-roxham-1.4232608

Mother and two daughter illegally crossing the Canadian border photo

Keung, N. (2017, March 21). Trump, tighter air travel rules behind surge of refugees at Canada-U.S. border, experts say. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/03/21/trump-tighter-air-travel-rules-behind-surge-of-refugees-at-canada-us-border-experts-say.html

McKenna, K. (2017, August 20). Trudeau to asylum seekers: Crossing border illegally won't fast track immigration. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/trudeau-asylum-seekers-1.4254851

Canada immigration warning sign photo

More US citizens - yes, citizens - are seeking refuge in Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-03-03/more-americans-are-trying-become-refugees-canada

Semotiuk, A. J. (2017, August 14). Illegal Immigrants Flee To Canadian Border As Trump Cracks Down On Immigration In The U.S. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyjsemotiuk/2017/08/12/illegal-immigrants-flee-to-canadian-border-as-trump-cracks-down-on-immigration-in-the-u-s/#5f875004715a

Woman being patted down by an officer photo

Silva, C. D. (2017, March 01). Refugees are fleeing Trump's America and crossing the border into Canada. This is what Trudeau needs to do. Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/us-donald-trump-refugees-fleeing-america-canada-border-crossing-justin-trudeau-a7604781.html