Roxham Road, a minor road crossing the 5,525-mile border that separates the US from Canada, has become one of the most used access points for asylum seekers in the North Country and is expected to be closed under an agreement between the two countries. Countries announced ahead of President Joe Biden’s visit
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is under pressure from the opposition and local authorities, particularly from the province of Quebec, to crack down on illegal crossings on Wroxham Road. They shot As of 2017.
Quebec Premier François Legault recently wrote a letter to Trudeau asking him to officially close Wroxham Road. Strong pressure on public services of the province, which has been carried out by thousands of asylum seekers in recent years.
According to Legault, local public services have been pushed “to the limit”.
What is Wroxham Road?
Only 5 miles long, most of the Wroxham Road in Canada was built in the 19th century.
It rises northwest of the border town of Champlain in New York state and crosses into Canada near Hemingford Township, Quebec, about 30 miles (50 km) south of Montreal.
Much of its history is Roxham Road It has allowed free movement across the border Between the two countries, since 2017, as a result of Donald Trump’s policies against asylum seekers, a large number of them used the pass to enter Canada.
At present A. on Roxham Road A semi-permanent position The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, where officers process asylum claims as the number of applicants crossing daily increases.
What is the attraction of Roxham Road for asylum seekers?
The Safe Third Country Agreement was signed in 2004 between the United States and Canada Prohibits crossing It establishes that asylum seekers must submit their applications in the first country they arrive at through border registrations between the two countries.
However, the deal Unofficial entry points are not included Such as Roxham Road located between two official border crossings where applicants are returned under the text of the Agreement.
Another aspect that adds to the appeal of trying to cross the border at Wroxham Road is that, although it is illegal for an asylum seeker to cross the border anywhere other than an official port of entry, if an applicant is already in Canadian territory. Are you legally allowed to apply for asylum?.
That will increase by 2022, according to Canadian government statistics 39,000 people They applied for asylum in the province of Quebec after arriving through unofficial entry points. In the rest of the country, there were only 369.
What can the Canadian government do about Wroxham Road?
Legally the Roxham Road entry point cannot be closed because Not officially opened.
The pass was closed when the two countries signed an agreement to expel asylum seekers from official checkpoints by 2020, as part of a package of measures to do so. Fight the Covid-19 pandemic are no longer valid.
In February, Trudeau rejected suggestions to unilaterally close the crossing, saying any restrictions on Wroxham Road would have to be part of a renegotiation of the current Safe Third Country Agreement.
Trudeau added Plans to refer to renegotiation Safe Third Country Agreement during US President Joe Biden’s visit to Canada.
Some opposition politicians have called on the Canadian government to appoint one Full range Stopping the crossings at Wroxham Road would be an official entry point, but doing so would require US involvement, as would the renegotiation of the Safe Third Country Agreement.
That’s what happened with the deal progress expected to happen this Thursday Officially announced today Friday.
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