Canada Wants U.S. to Enforce Its Immigration Laws to Keep Refugees Out

Canadian authorities, noting an influx of illegal aliens coming across the border and draining the country’s resources, are asking the United States to better enforce its immigration laws to keep Nigerian refugees from making their way to Canada.

The Washington Post reported that Nigerians coming to the U.S. on tourist visas are reportedly walking into Canada and asking for asylum there before their U.S. visas expire, and Canadian authorities say they have had enough.

Canadian authorities are asking the U.S.—which already screens those applying for tourist visas—to ask Nigerian tourists about their plans to travel to Canada so the U.S. can stop potential illegal aliens before they step foot on Canadian soil.

But illegal aliens can find their way into Canada a lot easier than in the U.S., where many illegal aliens would have to climb a border fence and evade federal immigration agents stationed around the border.

The Globe and Mail reported that many aliens enter Canada illegally by simply taking a cab from upstate New York to Roxham, a town in Quebec just across the Canadian border.

Under the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, refugees arriving from the U.S. cannot claim protection at Canadian ports of entry. A loophole in the law, however, gives asylum seekers an incentive to enter Canada illegally because it allows them to claim protection if they are already in Canada.

Canadian law also states the government cannot deport asylum seekers unless they receive a fair hearing, which can take up to two years due to backlogs in the system.

But Canada—especially Quebec—says it cannot afford to house, feed, care for, and support the increasing number of refugees coming into the country.

The country’s stance on immigration is a departure from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promise in January 2017 to welcome more refugees. Trudeau issued the statement after President Trump released an executive order which temporarily halted refugee resettlement.

But instead of changing its immigration laws or upping its border enforcement efforts, Canada is asking the U.S. to be stricter in allowing foreigners to obtain tourist visas.