Growing Number of Americans Filing Refugee Claims
Refugee claims in Canada are climbing, and American refugee claims are at the heart of this shift. In the first half of 2025 alone, more Americans applied for refugee status in Canada than during the entirety of 2024. The number even surpassed every full year since 2019, according to new data from Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board.
Although the share remains small—245 out of roughly 55,000 total claims—the increase is striking. For context, Canada historically accepts very few U.S. refugee applications.
How the Refugee System Works
Canada’s rules on asylum are clear. Under a bilateral agreement with the United States, asylum-seekers from other countries who cross into Canada are usually turned back. They are expected to apply in the first “safe” country they reach. That rule, however, does not stop Americans from applying for refugee protection in Canada.
In 2024, 204 U.S. citizens filed such claims. Numbers had also spiked during the first Trump administration, making this year’s rise part of a familiar pattern.
Why Are More Americans Applying?
The latest data does not explain the reasons behind the increase. Yet immigration lawyers say they are hearing from more transgender Americans seeking refuge.
One trans woman from Arizona told Reuters she came to Canada this past April to apply. Another mother filed on behalf of her young trans daughter. These personal stories shed light on the motivations driving the upward trend.
Political and Social Context
The rise coincides with changes in U.S. policies under President Donald Trump and rulings by the Supreme Court. Recent decisions have rolled back trans rights, restricting access to gender-affirming care, limiting military service, regulating bathroom use, and excluding athletes from certain sports.
For many LGBTQ Americans, these shifts fuel fears about safety and future rights within their own country.
What Applicants Must Prove
To win asylum, U.S. citizens must convince Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board that no part of the United States can be considered safe for them. That is a high bar.
Recently, the Board expanded its evidence library to include documents from Human Rights Watch and other organizations. These reports outline the treatment of LGBTQ individuals in the United States, helping assess whether claimants face real risks.
U.S. Government’s Position
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security pushed back on the idea of Americans seeking Canadian refuge. A spokesperson argued that such claims should not displace individuals “facing actual fear and persecution” in countries with fewer rights protections.
The trend may be modest in numbers, but its significance cannot be ignored. Rising claims reflect a shifting landscape in both U.S. politics and human rights protections. Whether more Americans will succeed in convincing Canadian authorities remains to be seen.
Stay tuned to Maple Wire for the next update in Canadian immigration and global rights news.
