Quebec sees asylum claims double as U.S. moves to strip protections from migrants. Experts say fears of a mass influx are exaggerated.
Quebec Border Sees Asylum Claims Surge Amid U.S. Policy Shift
Asylum claims at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing in Quebec more than doubled between March and April, coinciding with U.S. efforts to revoke legal protections for hundreds of thousands of migrants. According to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), 2,733 people made asylum claims in April—up from 1,356 in March and just 755 in February.
This sudden spike is drawing attention, especially as it diverges from a broader national decline in refugee claims across Canada this year.
Trump’s Crackdown Fueling Fear—But Not Floods
The surge follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 1.1 million people, including 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians. TPS allows migrants to legally live and work in the U.S. if their home countries are considered unsafe due to crises like war or natural disaster.
While the increase has raised concern in Canada, experts like Abdulla Daoud, executive director of Montreal’s Refugee Centre, caution against panic. “There is a fearmongering narrative around these numbers,” he said. “This is not a mass influx.”
Not a Repeat of Roxham Road Era
Daoud pointed out that the current wave of asylum seekers is different from the Roxham Road era, when thousands entered Canada through a now-closed loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement. That path was closed in 2023, and today’s arrivals are often people with deep U.S. ties or family already in Canada.
“These aren’t transient migrants,” Daoud noted. “Many have been in the U.S. for years and are choosing Canada now because they have connections here.”
Safe Third Country Agreement Still Limits Entry
Despite the rise in claims at this single Quebec crossing, overall refugee claims in Canada have dropped nearly 50% compared to last year. The CBSA has processed around 12,500 asylum claims in 2025 to date, down from 25,500 at the same time in 2024.
The Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the U.S. continues to bar most migrants from claiming asylum in Canada if they arrive from the U.S. Only certain exceptions—such as having a close family member in Canada—allow entry.
So far this year, 1,439 asylum seekers have been returned to the U.S. under that agreement.
Pushback in the U.S. and Growing Canadian Removals
The Trump administration’s attempt to roll back TPS has already been temporarily halted by a U.S. federal judge, who ruled that revoking protections for 350,000 Venezuelans would cause major disruptions. Still, the U.S. Justice Department is appealing to the Supreme Court to lift that block.
Meanwhile, Canada is increasing removals of inadmissible individuals. The CBSA says over 16,000 people were removed from Canada in 2023–24, more than double the number in 2021–22.
No Mass Migration, But Watchful Eyes Remain
While Quebec’s April border numbers raise eyebrows, experts and officials say they don’t signal a flood of migrants into Canada. Most new claimants are seeking protection lawfully and under existing exceptions.
As policy shifts continue on both sides of the border, Canada remains vigilant. Stay informed with Maple News Wire for more updates on immigration, asylum, and border trends.
