Canadian Police Brace for Potential Surge in Asylum-Seekers Escaping Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to power in the United States, Canadian police and migrant aid organisations are on high alert, bracing for a potential surge in asylum-seekers attempting to cross into Canada.

This development comes as Canada faces many refugee claims and seeks to address its immigration challenges.

Trump’s victory in this week’s election has raised concerns among Canadian officials, particularly regarding his platform, which includes plans for a large-scale deportation effort in the U.S. This has prompted fears of an increased flow of migrants to Canada as asylum-seekers look for refuge from the threat of deportation.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have been preparing for such a scenario for months. RCMP Sergeant Charles Poirier explained that a contingency plan had been in the works for some time as authorities anticipated the impact of Trump’s policies on migration. “We knew a few months ago that we had to start prepping a contingency plan because if he comes into power, which now he will in a few months, it could drive illegal migration and irregular migration into Quebec and Canada,” Poirier told Reuters.

Poirier highlighted the potential strain on resources if many people attempt to cross the border irregularly. “Let’s say we had 100 people per day entering across the border; then it’s going to be hard because our officers will have to cover huge distances to arrest everyone,” he said.

The situation recalls the migration surge during Trump’s first term in 2017, when thousands of asylum-seekers crossed into Canada outside formal checkpoints, often through Roxham Road near the Quebec-New York border.

However, a bilateral agreement between Canada and the U.S. has since closed that route. Under the pact, which applies to the entire 4,000-mile border, asylum-seekers attempting to cross outside formal checkpoints are turned back unless they meet specific exemptions.

The path forward is even more difficult for those trying to enter undetected. Immigrant advocates warn that migrants may now face two weeks of hiding to avoid detection before they can safely seek asylum, a dangerous endeavour.

Abdulla Daoud, director of The Refugee Centre in Montreal, emphasised the challenges migrants face: “When you don’t create legitimate pathways, or when you only create pathways where people have to do the impossible to receive safety, you know. Unfortunately, people are going to try to do the impossible.”

In response to the potential surge, Canadian authorities are on high alert, ready to deploy additional resources if necessary.

This could include mobilising hundreds of extra officers, increasing patrols with additional cruisers, chartering buses, and setting up temporary facilities near the border.

“All eyes are on the border right now. … We were on high alert, I can tell you, a few days before the election, and we’ll probably remain on alert for the next coming weeks,” Poirier said, underscoring the tense anticipation among Canadian authorities as they prepare for any eventuality stemming from the changes in U.S. immigration policy under Trump’s leadership.