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 © 2017 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation 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? /1 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. /2 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.” /3 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.