By Anna Mehler Paperny

TORONTO, (Reuters) – In the winter months of snowy north America, there is a decrease in asylum-seekers coming from the United States to Canada via Roxham Road. This winter, not so.

The government statistics reveal that the numbers of asylum-seekers who entered Canada from other countries than Canada in December reached their highest level since August 2017.

One attorney stated that the growing number of cases is causing longer wait times to hear eligibility hearings. This means claimants are left waiting for months before they can get work permits.

This increase is due to the December lifting of an emergency pandemic order. In order to stop COVID-19 spreading, the border police have barred all asylum-seekers from crossing their borders since March 2020.

Pierre-Luc Bouchard from Montreal, a lawyer for refugees and asylum seekers said that “it seems to me that the ministry was caught off guard.” He has 70 cases of refugees after only two years with virtually no new clients. They are confused.”

Last week, a representative from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated to Reuters that the increase had been anticipated and indicated it was working hard to speed up applicants and reduce wait times for eligibility hearings.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police captured 2,811 asylum-seekers who crossed the border to Quebec from places other than formal ports of entry in December. This is a large number. Their interceptions in January and February were 2,382 (and 2,164) respectively, as compared to the 888 or 808 of January and February 2019.

They are not allowed to enter Canada at official border crossings. Canada and the United States have the right to refuse asylum-seekers at formal land border crossings under the Safe Third Country Agreement. This agreement is being challenged by Canada’s Supreme Court.

“PEOPLE AREN’T DESPERATE”

Frances Ravensbergen (coordinator of Bridges Not Borders), said that volunteers who bring water bottles and mittens to the border to help ensure the rights of border-crossers have resumed weekly visits to Roxham Road, after being suspended during the pandemic.

Bouchard stated that some asylum seekers “have kinda waited for their borders to reopen.”

Roxham Road doesn’t serve as an official border crossing. But, so many asylum seekers use it, that officers frequently station themselves there to intercept migrants.

Bouchard stated that some would-be refugees waited in America, in Latin America, or in Kenya, until they were able to travel to Canada through the United States. Canadian asylum seekers come from many different countries such as Iran, Colombia, India, and Mexico.

Bouchard explained that Canada’s ever-changing regulations are something many keep in mind, sometimes with confusion.

Bouchard isn’t satisfied with Canada’s easing of border restrictions. He said that people are in desperate need of help.

According to him, the rise was also an indicator that the U.S. immigration policy had not changed under President Joe Biden, especially in regard to gender-based refugeese claims which are less likely than others to be successful in America.

U.S. immigration authorities in Mexico have reached an all-time high of 20 years. The Biden administration was reluctant to reverse the previous measures.

A request to comment was not received by the U.S. government immediately.

FLEEING TO CANADA

Reuters interviewed a Nicaraguan refugee claimsant who said he fled Nicaragua in June to seek asylum in a country nearby. He hoped he would return home in Managua for Christmas. He said that the situation had worsened and that police threatened his family at home. Because he is afraid of reprisals, he asked to not be identified.

He flew to the United States with the help of tips and internet information. The couple flew from Nicaragua to New York. They boarded a bus that took them to Plattsburgh, upstate New York. After this they caught a taxi for the Canadian border.

According to him, Canadian police were helpful. He and his family now live in Montreal. He hopes that he will soon find employment for his children.

He said, “It’s been a difficult trip… Everything is in Nicaragua.” He said, “But my mind remains positive and I believe that we will do well.