Are you thinking of claiming asylum in Canada? |
en français -- en espagnol |
Welcome to our information page for people who want to come to Canada to claim asylum, with specific information for people who choose to enter via Roxham Road USA.
Bridges Not Borders - Créons des Ponts is a local grassroots group in Canada. We can’t advise you about what to do, but we want to offer information to help you decide.
Bridges Not Borders - Créons des Ponts is a local grassroots group in Canada. We can’t advise you about what to do, but we want to offer information to help you decide.
Consult this page for regular updates on Canada-US border closure.
Please read this carefully before deciding to contact us.
20 March 2020 - URGENT NOTICE TO EVERYONE SEEKING TO CROSS AT ROXHAM ROAD
From midnight tonight, Friday March 20th, all people who enter Canada through Roxham Road, or any other place along the border, will NO longer be allowed to stay in Canada and make a claim for asylum. If you enter Canada you will be sent back to the United States border authorities and you will likely be put in detention. We will update this page as needed. Keep safe as best you can.
28 March 2020
The US Customs and Border Protection agency has stated that, when Canada returns irregular border- crossers to US custody, these people will be deported back to their home countries without any chance to claim asylum. See media coverage here: National Post
Please be aware of the dangers in attempting to cross into Canada. Not only do you risk being sent back to your home country, but you can put your life at risk. It is still very cold in Canada. We will update this notice if there are any changes.
1 April 2020
Please go to these pages for more information on the current situation from:
29 April 2020 IMPORTANT NEW INFORMATION ABOUT CLAIMING ASYLUM IN CANADA
** The following information is now valid from April 22 to October 21, 2020.
1. AT AN OFFICIAL LAND PORT OF ENTRY (Like St Bernard de Lacolle)
2. CROSSING AT IRREGULAR POINTS ALONG THE BORDER LIKE ROXHAM ROAD
22 May, 2020 - 20 July 2020
The closure of the Canada-US border was extended for three 30 day periods until August 21st.
*** The situation for asylum seekers remained the same as set out in the entry of April 29th.
23 July 2020
A Federal Court Judge in Canada has found that the Safe Third Country Agreement is not constitutional (see statement from Canadian Council for Refugees Here ), HOWEVER, she is suspending her decision for 6 months to allow the government and parliament to consider a response. This means that THE SITUATION AT THE BORDER REMAINS THE SAME as outlined above at April 29th. Any future changes will be noted here.
15 August 2020 - 19 September 2020
The closure of the Canada-US border was extended for two 30 day periods until October 21st.
*** The situation for asylum seekers remains the same as set out above in the entry of April 29th.***
* The Canadian government is appealing against the Federal Court decision that found the STCA to be unconstitutional (see above at July 23rd). This means that the legal process will continue for some time. As of now there is no court date for the appeal.
15 October, 2020 - NEW
The Canada-US Cross border network has produced a press release providing information on the border situation.
It is available HERE in Arabic, English, French, Kreole, Lingala, Portuguese and Spanish.
Please read this carefully before deciding to contact us.
20 March 2020 - URGENT NOTICE TO EVERYONE SEEKING TO CROSS AT ROXHAM ROAD
From midnight tonight, Friday March 20th, all people who enter Canada through Roxham Road, or any other place along the border, will NO longer be allowed to stay in Canada and make a claim for asylum. If you enter Canada you will be sent back to the United States border authorities and you will likely be put in detention. We will update this page as needed. Keep safe as best you can.
28 March 2020
The US Customs and Border Protection agency has stated that, when Canada returns irregular border- crossers to US custody, these people will be deported back to their home countries without any chance to claim asylum. See media coverage here: National Post
Please be aware of the dangers in attempting to cross into Canada. Not only do you risk being sent back to your home country, but you can put your life at risk. It is still very cold in Canada. We will update this notice if there are any changes.
1 April 2020
Please go to these pages for more information on the current situation from:
- the UN Refugee Agency in Canada: UNHCR
- the Government of Canada: Govt of Canada
29 April 2020 IMPORTANT NEW INFORMATION ABOUT CLAIMING ASYLUM IN CANADA
** The following information is now valid from April 22 to October 21, 2020.
1. AT AN OFFICIAL LAND PORT OF ENTRY (Like St Bernard de Lacolle)
- If you are seeking asylum in Canada AND you meet one of the exceptions to the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA), you can now go to a regular land Port of Entry to make a refugee claim.
- FIRST make sure you fit under an exception to the STCA and know how to prove a family relationship. See information on the Canadian government website Here. Scroll down to read ‘Exceptions to the STCA’.
- If you are allowed to enter Canada to make a refugee claim you will have to remain in isolation for 14 days.
- You are strongly advised to consult a refugee lawyer or specialist organization before going to a Port of Entry. You can call/write: 1. Romero House in Toronto, Ontario to obtain the name of a reliable refugee lawyer: 416.763.1303 or info@romerohouse.org and 2. Viva La Casa in Buffalo, New York to get advice about STCA exceptions on 716.892.4354.
- Important: If you DO NOT meet an exception under the STCA you will be sent back to the US. Unless you are able to challenge this decision, you will not be able to apply for asylum in Canada again. You may be detained in the US.
2. CROSSING AT IRREGULAR POINTS ALONG THE BORDER LIKE ROXHAM ROAD
- If you cross irregularly and are arrested, you will be sent back to the US, BUT you should be given a notice that you can return to a Port of Entry to make a refugee claim when the border reopens. Please note that the US government has NOT confirmed yet how they will treat asylum seekers who are sent back to the US. So, you may be put in detention and returned back to your country.
- The following people will NOT be sent back to the US and should be able to make a refugee claim: US citizens, stateless persons who live in the US and unmarried unaccompanied children (under 18 years of age) without a parent or legal guardian in the US.
- Immigration officers also have the power to use their discretion to admit to Canada people who may be subject to the death penalty.
22 May, 2020 - 20 July 2020
The closure of the Canada-US border was extended for three 30 day periods until August 21st.
*** The situation for asylum seekers remained the same as set out in the entry of April 29th.
23 July 2020
A Federal Court Judge in Canada has found that the Safe Third Country Agreement is not constitutional (see statement from Canadian Council for Refugees Here ), HOWEVER, she is suspending her decision for 6 months to allow the government and parliament to consider a response. This means that THE SITUATION AT THE BORDER REMAINS THE SAME as outlined above at April 29th. Any future changes will be noted here.
15 August 2020 - 19 September 2020
The closure of the Canada-US border was extended for two 30 day periods until October 21st.
*** The situation for asylum seekers remains the same as set out above in the entry of April 29th.***
* The Canadian government is appealing against the Federal Court decision that found the STCA to be unconstitutional (see above at July 23rd). This means that the legal process will continue for some time. As of now there is no court date for the appeal.
15 October, 2020 - NEW
The Canada-US Cross border network has produced a press release providing information on the border situation.
It is available HERE in Arabic, English, French, Kreole, Lingala, Portuguese and Spanish.
URGENT MESSAGE FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS: If you have applied for asylum in the USA (or in the United Kingdom, New Zealand or Australia) you are no longer entitled to the full independent refugee determination process in Canada. Instead you only have access to a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) hearing conducted by a government official. You will be able to have a lawyer or immigration consultant present with you. You need to be aware that the PRRA is a much less thorough process and has a low success rate. However, if you are successful you will be recognized as either a refugee or a protected person in Canada. Please consider this carefully before deciding to enter Canada either via Roxham Road or at an official Port of Entry.
HELP IN THE USA
- We work closely with Plattsburgh Cares, a volunteer organisation in Plattsburgh (New York State), which gives information and support to people wanting to leave the US to seek asylum in Canada. Their refugee support page is here: Plattsburgh Cares Refugee Support. You can contact them for support at : support@plattsburghcares.org or call them at 518-243-8292 or 518-240-8866. Plattsburgh Care volunteers visit the border at Roxham Road 5 - 6 afternoons a week and give out free warm things in winter.
- Legal Advice in USA: the New York Immigration Coalition works for all immigrants and asylum seekers in New York State. Here is a list of legal service providers on their website: https://www.nyic.org/providers/.
- You can call here for free legal advice: NYS Office of New Americans Immigration Hotline: 1-800- 566- 7636.
CANADA
INFORMATION SHEETS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS:
The United Nations Refugee Agency in Canada has prepared 9 one-page information sheets for people who want to apply for asylum (see list of info sheets below). They are available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic and Creole. For the Arabic links click on the UNHCR publications link below and then on the Arabic links for the 8 sheets.
Find these 9 one-page information sheets here: https://www.unhcr.ca/newsroom/publications/.
Or click on the direct links below:
The United Nations Refugee Agency in Canada has prepared 9 one-page information sheets for people who want to apply for asylum (see list of info sheets below). They are available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic and Creole. For the Arabic links click on the UNHCR publications link below and then on the Arabic links for the 8 sheets.
Find these 9 one-page information sheets here: https://www.unhcr.ca/newsroom/publications/.
Or click on the direct links below:
- What is the Basis of Claim Form?
- What Happens When You Claim Asylum at the Border At official border crossings and at irregular border crossings such as Roxham Road
- Who is Eligible to Claim Asylum in Canada?
- How to Prove Your Link to Family Members in Canada
- Asylum Claims: proving your identity
- Claiming Asylum in Canada The stages of the process
- Who Can Claim Asylum at the Official Border? At any official border crossing, according to the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the USA
- Who Can Get Refugee Protection in Canada?
- Winter in Canada
BRIDGES NOT BORDERS - CRÉONS DES PONTS: Sunday Visits to Roxham Road, US
Every Sunday afternoon Bridges Not Borders volunteers go to Roxham Road in New York State to welcome people who come to Canada to claim asylum. On hot summer days we offer water and during the winter we give out free hats, scarves, mittens and gloves. We always try to have children’s sizes in stock.
When we are at the border, we also note how the Canadian police officers (called RCMP) deal with people crossing into Canada. We are in regular contact with the police about what we observe during our border visits.
Every Sunday afternoon Bridges Not Borders volunteers go to Roxham Road in New York State to welcome people who come to Canada to claim asylum. On hot summer days we offer water and during the winter we give out free hats, scarves, mittens and gloves. We always try to have children’s sizes in stock.
When we are at the border, we also note how the Canadian police officers (called RCMP) deal with people crossing into Canada. We are in regular contact with the police about what we observe during our border visits.
CROSSING AT ROXHAM ROAD
Taxis in Plattsburgh can charge a maximum of $92 per trip to take you from the Plattsburgh bus station or train station to the Canadian border.
Taxis in Plattsburgh can charge a maximum of $92 per trip to take you from the Plattsburgh bus station or train station to the Canadian border.
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When you arrive at the border at Roxham Road, wait on the US side until the Canadian police officer speaks to you and asks if you understand. You can then cross into Canada.
Police officers are told to say these three things to asylum seekers: 1. It is illegal to cross here. 2. If you want to cross legally into Canada you can go to the official border crossing at St Bernard de Lacolle. 3. If you cross here you will be arrested. *Officers should say these three things only and should not add personal remarks. Although you will be arrested when you cross into Canada at Roxham Road, this is temporary. Because you are seeking asylum, you will not be charged with illegal entry. This is written in Canadian law and international law. |
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Please Note: If you decide to go to the official border crossing you may not be able to enter Canada because of the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA). If you are refused entry you may be transferred to the custody of US border officials. See information about the STCA here: http://www.bridgesnotborders.ca/why.html. |
Despite the police directive, according to UNHCR and Canadian legal experts it is not illegal to cross into Canada this way. See more here: http://www.bridgesnotborders.ca/myths-and-facts-2.html) |
After the police interview at Roxham Road, you will be taken to immigration offices at St Bernard de Lacolle. There you will be interviewed by a Canadian Border Services Agent about your refugee claim (this is what it is called in Canada) and also go through security screening. Normally, you will then be released and able to travel by bus to Montreal.
At the moment (November 2018) the average waiting time to appear before the person deciding your refugee claim is 21 months.
At the moment (November 2018) the average waiting time to appear before the person deciding your refugee claim is 21 months.
If you decide to come here to seek asylum, we hope you will be able to make
a good and safe life for yourself and your loved ones in Canada.
a good and safe life for yourself and your loved ones in Canada.
