As an immigration consultant, I have seen firsthand the impact of the Roxham Road Border and the Safe Third Country Agreement on Canadian immigration. In this blog, I will provide an overview of these policies and their impact on immigration to Canada.

What is Roxham Road Border?

Roxham Road Border is an informal crossing point along the Canada-US border, located near the town of Champlain, New York. This crossing point has become popular in recent years as a route for asylum seekers to enter Canada.

Under Canadian law, individuals who enter Canada at official border crossings are subject to the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA). The STCA is an agreement between Canada and the United States that requires individuals to make refugee claims in the first safe country they arrive in. As the United States is considered a safe country for refugees, individuals who arrive at official border crossings from the US are ineligible to make a refugee claim in Canada.

However, the STCA does not apply to individuals who enter Canada at unofficial border crossings, such as Roxham Road. As a result, many asylum seekers have been crossing the border at Roxham Road to make refugee claims in Canada.

Impact on Canadian Immigration

The Roxham Road Border and the Safe Third Country Agreement have significantly impacted Canadian immigration, particularly in the past few years. According to government statistics, approximately 40,000 asylum seekers have entered Canada through Roxham Road since 2017.

The influx of asylum seekers has put a strain on Canada’s refugee processing system, resulting in long wait times for asylum claims and a backlog of cases. Additionally, the government has had to allocate additional resources to process the claims, including constructing temporary shelters to house asylum seekers.

The Roxham Road Border has also sparked political debates in Canada, with some arguing that the policy undermines the integrity of Canada’s immigration system and others arguing that it is necessary to protect the rights of asylum seekers.

Conclusion

The Roxham Road Border and the Safe Third Country Agreement have significantly impacted Canadian immigration in recent years. While the informal crossing point has provided a route for asylum seekers to make claims in Canada, it has also put a strain on the country’s refugee processing system and sparked political debates.

As an immigration consultant, it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and policies related to Canadian immigration. By understanding the impact of the Roxham Road Border and the Safe Third Country Agreement, I can better assist my clients in navigating the Canadian immigration system.