OTTAWA — A newly released memo shows federal officials warned last spring that expanding a bilateral refugee pact to the entire Canada-U.S.
border would likely fuel smuggling networks and encourage people to seek more dangerous, remote crossing routes.
The pact has long allowed either country to turn back a prospective refugee who showed up at a land port of entry along the Canada-U.S. border — unless eligible for an exemption — on the basis they must pursue their claim in the country where they first arrived.On March 24, during U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to Ottawa, the two countries announced the Safe Third Country Agreement would cover the entire land border effective the following day.
But"Despite preliminary positive results related to irregular migration volumes, changes to the are expected to change the criminal threat environment and exacerbate existing threats to the Canada-U.S. border," it noted. In addition, the memo said, the RCMP is aware that irregular migrants may become victims of physical or sexual abuse or human trafficking during their passage to Canada.
"What's very concerning is it underscores how clearly the government was aware of the dangers that were associated with closing down the border," she said in an interview.
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