New statistics reveal that 2,800 illegal border crossers entered Canada through Roxham Road in December, only one month after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced its reopening.
According to CTV News, that’s nearly a threefold jump since November, which saw 832 crossings at the controversial crossing.
On Nov. 22, Trudeau reopened the unauthorized point of entry to refugee and asylum claimants after it was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Border officials reported that only 96 people were admitted at Roxham Road in October.
As exclusively reported by True North, unvaccinated migrants are being allowed to enter the country freely without a vaccine passport while unvaccinated Canadians are barred from leaving by air or land.
Canadian Border Services Agency spokesperson Sandra Boudreau stated that the claimants are being accepted “regardless of their vaccination status.”
“Refugee claimants are requested to show proof of vaccination if they have been vaccinated,” Boudreau told True North. “Unvaccinated individuals will be permitted to enter if making an asylum claim but will be required to follow all COVID-19 public health obligations, including all testing requirements.”
To date, approximately 60,000 illegal border crossings have taken place at unauthorized ports of entry.
A recent ruling by the Federal Court of Appeal affirmed Canada’s right to turn back asylum seekers from the United States, noting that such a move would not violate Charter rights.
The ruling also found that the Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement, which regulates asylum claims between the two countries, was constitutional.
“Those who arrive in the United States must claim refugee status in the United States under United States law,” the ruling read. “They cannot leave the United States and claim refugee status in Canada at a land port of entry. If they do so, Canada can refuse to consider their refugee claim and, if they have no other legal basis for remaining in Canada, return them to the United States.”
Despite the court’s position, Trudeau has continued to refuse to turn away asylum claimants arriving at illegal border crossings.
