Border Running: Asylum Seekers Head to Canada Duration: 18:06

IN THIS ISSUE Border Running: Asylum Seekers Head To Canada Duration: 18:06

Thousands of asylum seekers are fleeing into Canada from the U.S. They left their native countries to escape hardship, poverty, and in some cases war, only to learn that new U.S. immigration policies have made it hard for them to stay. Now they're heading to Canada — using illegal border crossings like Roxham Road. It's a one-way route out of the U.S. that the Canadian government can't seem to plug. And it's proving a Herculean effort for those working Border Security to patrol that long international border.

Related News in Review stories CREDITS  Asylum Seekers: A Desperate Journey into News in Review is produced by CBC NEWS Canada (Apr 2017)  One Year On: Canada’s Syrian Refugee Resource Guide Writer/Editor: Sean Dolan Program (Feb 2017) Additional editing: Michaël Elbaz  Syrian Arrivals: Canada Welcomes the First Host: Michael Serapio Packaging Producer: Marie-Hélène Savard Refugees (Feb 2016) Associate Producer: Francine Laprotte  The Tamil Boat People Controversy (Oct 2010) Supervising Manager: Laraine Bone  Chinese Boat People: Human Cargo (Oct 1999) Visit our website at curio.ca/newsinreview,  Refugees in Canada: Getting Through the Door where you will find an archive of all previous (Mar 1994) News in Review seasons. As a companion resource, we recommend that students and teachers access cbc.ca/news for additional Other related Curio.ca content articles.

 Ahmed Hussen: From Somali Refugee to Closed Captioning Canada's Immigration Minister News in Review programs are closed captioned for the hearing impaired, for English  The Fifty-Sixers as a Second Language students, or for  Swimming to Freedom: The Incredible Story of situations in which the additional on-screen Yahya Samatar (CBC Radio) print component will enhance learning.  Syrian Refugee Crisis: Lessons from Vietnamese CBC Learning authorizes reproduction of Boat People material contained in this guide for  Voyage of the Black Dragon educational purposes. Please identify source. News in Review is distributed by: Curio.ca – CBC Media Solutions www.curio.ca

Video Review

Before Viewing

Canada and the United States share the longest undefended border in the world. Sure, there are border stations but, for the most part, what separates the two nations are lakes, rivers, forests and farmland. In fact, parts of some towns are located in both countries. The Haskell Free Library and Opera House straddles the Canada-U.S. border between Stanstead, Quebec, and Derby Line, Vermont. Upstairs, the concert venue’s main stage and first few rows of seating are located in 3. Why are asylum seekers willing to be Stanstead, the rest — over 40 per cent of the arrested by the RCMP if they cross the seats — are located in Derby Line. Downstairs, border from the U.S. into Canada? the building’s entrance and main access point 4. How did some of the asylum seekers find for the library is located in Derby Line. Canadians out about the Roxham Road route? can enter the building without a passport but are not allowed to step off the sidewalk (too deep 5. Why are asylum seekers choosing Canada into U.S. territory?) on their way inside. There is no over the U.S.? What is it about the political way to distinguish between Canada and the climate in the U.S. that is causing them to U.S., Quebec and Vermont, or Stanstead and make a run for the border? Derby Line other than a bit of signage, some lines on the ground and local knowledge. 6. a) How many people crossed the border into Canada in August 2017? How many 1. How could this open border point be of those people were children? abused? Why should authorities be concerned? b) How many people have made the trek 2. What does the open border say about the into Canada via Roxham Road in 2017? relationship between Canada and the U.S.? 7. Which nationalities represent the highest Viewing percentage of people seeking to leave the U.S. and enter Canada? 1. Why are asylum seekers flooding across the 8. Why was the owner of Plattsburgh’s border from the U.S. into Canada? Northern Taxi fined? What was he doing to 2. What did CBC reporter Susan Ormiston prompt authorities to issue a fine? discover when she met with travelers 9. What history does the Plattsburgh, New York, arriving in Plattsburgh, New York? Where and Roxham Road have with respect to were the travelers heading?

people crossing from the U.S. into Canada? When was the road used in the past? People coming to Canada 2016 2017

10. How easy is it to jump the border into Immigrants 300 000 300 000 Canada? Refugees 50 000 31 000 11. What is the downside of the Roxham Road Asylum seekers (all) 25 000 36 000 illegal border crossing? Asylum seekers (crossing at 2 500 15 000 12. Why is Aisha, the Nigerian asylum seeker illegal border points) (13 000 in Quebec) featured in the video, so desperate to come to Canada? Keep in mind that the total number of people coming to Canada in 2017 will be 13. Who is Brad Brant? What is his job? approximately 300 000. Of the 300 000, 14. How frequently is the Tree Farm in Swanton approximately 31 000 will be applying as used by asylum seekers to enter Canada? refugees and another 36 000 will be seeking admission to Canada as asylum seekers. Of the 15. Why are the maple tree sap lines 36 000 asylum seekers, 15 000 crossed at illegal sometimes a hindrance to both border border points like the one on Roxham Road in jumpers and border agents? Saint-Bernard-De-Lacolle, Quebec.

16. What role do locals living on the 1. What was your initial reaction when you first undefended border play in the reporting of reviewed these statistics? Do any of these suspicious people moving north and south? statistics surprise you?

17. How cooperative is the RCMP in dealing 2. Some people view asylum seekers as “line with the U.S. Border Patrol? jumpers” because they are essentially jumping around the line-up of refugees who After Viewing are seeking refugee status through a proper application process. Do you think CBC News – Who is a refugee? asylum seekers give themselves an unfair cbc.ca/news/world/who ‐is‐a‐refugee‐1.119150 advantage by crossing into Canada at illegal border points? A refugee is a person who is seeking protection from a country under the 1951 U.N. Convention 3. Does Canada need to tighten up its on the Status of Refugees. An asylum seeker is borders? Keep in mind, immigration is a person whose claim for refugee status is helping the Canadian economy grow. If undetermined; in other words, it is being sought you stop the influx of people, you risk major outside the 1951 U.N. protocol. To put this in disruptions to the economic growth perspective, take a look at the following Canada has been enjoying for years. numbers.

THE STORY

The longest undefended border in the world

A symbol of peace, mutual cooperation and friendship — this is how the world has viewed the undefended border that separates Canada and the United States of America. However, this oft admired line of demarcation is becoming known for other reasons. Suddenly, the undefended border has become a convenient way for would-be refugees to flee the United States and enter Canada in the wake of President Donald Trump’s angry and inflammatory rhetoric aimed at immigrants as well as policies that target certain immigrant groups. Thus, the exodus north is seeing Canadian border towns flooded with asylum seekers from around the world seeking a hasty exit from Trump’s America.

Why are they fleeing?

So, why are they fleeing? Since President Trump took power in January 2017, he has enacted a series of executive orders aimed at stemming the flow of immigrants into the United States. He has also tightened up the refugee claim process. Specifically, shortly after assuming the presidency, Trump issued a travel ban for citizens attempting to enter the U.S. from a number of Muslim-majority population countries. The policy was expanded at one native land in 2010 after a devastating point to include people from Venezuela. Trump earthquake. Trump vowed deportation for has also signed an executive order dealing those refusing to return to Haiti starting in with the building of a wall between Mexico January 2018. In response to the president’s and the United States designed to keep attack on immigrants, Prime Minister Trudeau Mexican “criminals” out of the U.S. The tweeted, “Those fleeing persecution, terror and president even lifted a provision of protective war, Canadians will welcome you regardless of status for Haitian immigrants who fled their your faith.”

The ultimate effect of the travel ban, the wall From a trickle to a wave plan and Trump’s anti-immigration rhetoric was to make recent immigrant populations in the Fearing repercussions in light of the policies U.S. fear that their status in the country was in and rhetoric of President Trump, it didn’t take jeopardy. Some people who had expired or long for asylum seekers to discover the easiest expiring travel visas opted to make a run for places to cross from the U.S. into Canada. the “true north, strong and free” rather than Suddenly, Surrey, B.C., Gretna and Emmerson, wait for Trump’s next move. In 2017, Canada Manitoba, and Saint-Bernard-De-Lacolle and received 36 000 asylum claims across the Stanstead, Quebec, became the go-to country. Just under half of these claims came border-jumping hotspots. Once it became from people crossing into Canada at illegal clear that the trickle of asylum seekers was border points. turning into a wave, police began gathering at the illegal crossing areas and arresting border The border-jumpers jumpers. However, the border jumpers knew that the arrest was just step one; step two Logic would dictate that, people fearing involved the government of Canada taking a deportation from the U.S., might make their hard look at their asylum claim. way north into Canada. However, an agreement between the two countries called How did asylum seekers discover the illegal border crossing the Safe Third Country Agreement was crafted point in Surrey, B.C., Gretna and Emmerson, Manitoba, to prevent that strategy. The agreement gave and Saint‐Bernard‐De‐Lacolle and Stanstead, border agents the power to turn away asylum Quebec? The internet of course — specifically, seekers at established border points if it looked social media posts and messages shared within like those involved were “asylum shopping.” In affected groups. other words, a person could not come from another part of the world, enter the U.S. and, In early 2017, Emerson Manitoba, saw the first figuring that their asylum claim was likely going wave of illegal immigrants arrive. By the end of to be denied, make their way to Canada at the summer close to 800 had crossed. It seek asylum — or vice versa. However, there seemed that at some point, perhaps in late was one loophole in the agreement: it only June, the torch was passed from Emerson to dealt with people crossing at established Saint-Bernard-De-Lacolle, Quebec, as a tidal border points; if someone just crossed from the wave of asylum seekers made their way up U.S. into Canada across a river or a farmer’s Roxham Road and into the waiting arms of the field or by crossing a road, the Safe Third RCMP in Canada. Over 8 500 asylum seekers, Country Agreement was not in play. This meant mostly Haitian, crossed the border in July and that authorities on either side of the border August. Authorities were eventually forced to would have to look at asylum claims for set up 1 500 beds in Montreal’s Olympic anyone sneaking into the country regardless of Stadium to give the asylum seekers a place to the bilateral agreement. stay while the first stages of their applications

were being processed. At times, close to 300 To Consider people were crossing the border from Vermont into Quebec every day. 1. Why are people fleeing the U.S. and coming to Canada? The refugee backlog 2. Why are people choosing to cross into By the end of October 2017, over 15 000 Canada at illegal border crossings? What border jumpers had made their way into bilateral agreement are they trying to Canada. Combine these numbers with those bypass? who crossed at established border points and the number sky rockets to close to 36 000. 3. Why are Haitians leaving the U.S. and Since Canada’s Immigration and Refugee coming to Canada? Where are they Board can only process 24 000 refugee making the crossing? applications a year, and there was already a backlog from 2016, an anticipated 40 000 applications are expected to be waiting for review by years end. From year to year, around 62 per cent of refugee applications are granted by the Canadian government.

In the meantime, no concrete plans are in place to turn people away at the illegal border crossings. Border staff will continue to be diverted to places like Roxham Road to handle people fleeing the U.S. in favour of Canada.

After the border jumping story remained in the headlines for much of the past year, 71 per cent of Canadians surveyed said they wanted more security along the U.S. border.

THE NEW UNDERGROUND RAILROAD “passenger” (enslaved person) with their journey, ferrying them to “stations” (safe In their February 2017 article on the influx of houses) and “terminals” (larger cities that people fleeing U.S. President Trump’s anti- acted as transportation hubs) en route to immigration policies by seeking asylum in freedom in either a free state in the North or Canada, Macleans magazine referred to the Canada. run to varying illegal border crossings as the “New Underground Railroad.” An estimated 30 000 to 40 000 slaves made their way to Canada, mostly settling in Ontario. The Underground Railroad Some former slaves wound up in Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. They traveled Designed by people seeking to abolish slavery, overland by foot, wagon, carriage, horses and the original “Underground Railroad” was an (occasionally) train. They also traveled by boat escape route that helped direct African across lakes, seas and rivers. American slaves out of the U.S. into Canada. The original Underground Railroad helped free Trump inspires new underground railroad close to 100 000 slaves from the late 1700s to the mid 1800s. Use of the Underground The new underground railroad features Railroad peaked from 1850 to 1865 — the time crossing points in Surrey, B.C., Emmerson, preceding and during the U.S. Civil War. Manitoba, Fort Erie, Ontario, and Saint-Bernard- Slavery was the issue that divided the U.S. De-Lacolle, Quebec. Immigrants and refugees along moral and economic lines with the have been making their way into Canada and Unionist states in the North opposing slavery the United States for years. Many of these and Confederate states in the South people have been seeking an escape from supporting slavery. At the end of the war, the conflict, disease and poverty. A large number Unionist victory led to the abolition of slavery in of people have been granted refugee status the United States. — as in the case of the 40 000 Syrian refugees Canada accepted in 2016. However, others Here’s how it worked: in the late 1700s, have traveled to the U.S. and Canada and just abolitionist groups in and around Philadelphia let their travel, work or study visas expire, began coming up with ways to smuggle slaves making the conscious choice to live in either from enslaved states to free states to the North. country illegally. Once this decision is made, Eventually a clandestine network of routes was the illegal immigrants just wait to see if the established and slaves living in the South were authorities catch up with them. It had been a able to find safe passage north. By 1830, winning strategy up until very recently. people were referring to the network of routes as the Underground Railway — even though Things changed dramatically for immigrants to very few ever used an actual railroad to lead the U.S. with the election of Donald Trump in slaves to freedom. However, the abolitionists November 2016. Trump ran on an anti- did use railway terminology: a “conductor” immigration, anti-refugee platform that, once (abolitionist, freed slave, sympathizer) helped a he assumed office, sent thousands of people running for the Canadian border. They did this

because they assumed that Trump would make good on his threats to deport people TRY THIS! with expired visas and improper paperwork. Go to the Black History Canada site (blackhistorycanada.com) to learn more about the Underground Railroad. Check out So, they came by bus and train to points north, the EVENTS tab and investigate the circumstances using social media to network information surrounding the formation of the Underground Railroad about the most porous Canadian border areas. By November 2017, close to 36 000 people had sought asylum in Canada, with over 15 000 of those people crossing at illegal border points. The new underground railroad, while in its infancy, looks like it is going to be around for a while. To Consider

1. What is the Underground Railroad? How did it work?

2. What is the new underground railroad? Why did it come into existence?