Advertisement

Liberal MPs head to U.S. to deter new surge of asylum seekers in Canada

An asylum seeker, claiming to be from Eritrea, is questioned by an RCMP officer as he crosses the border into Canada from the United States Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 near Champlain, N.Y. Paul Chiasson/CP

OTTAWA — Two Liberal MPs are headed back to the U.S. in an effort to fend off a new surge of asylum seekers at the Canada-U.S. border following the latest shift in U.S. immigration policy.

READ MORE: Canada readies for potential refugee influx as U.S. ends protection status for Nicaragua

The Trump administration this week placed about 5,000 Nicaraguans on notice that their temporary status in the U.S. will be revoked in the next year, while nearly 58,000 Hondurans have been given an extension of just six months.

READ MORE: Canada giving refugee status to border-crossers at rising rates

And fear among thousands of Haitians in the U.S. that their temporary protected status will also be removed has been cited as a factor behind the hundreds of people a day who crossed illegally into Canada this summer.

Story continues below advertisement

WATCH: How is the Canadian government dealing with all of the asylum seekers?

Click to play video: 'How is the Canadian government dealing with all of the asylum seekers?'
How is the Canadian government dealing with all of the asylum seekers?

Liberal MPs Pablo Rodriguez and Emmanuel Dubourg are now being sent back to the U.S. to reach out to the Hispanic and Haitian communities to make it clear those who wish asylum in Canada should seek it through legal means.

Both MPs travelled to diaspora communities earlier this year, and their efforts are believed to have helped to slow the pace of new arrivals at the border.

WATCH: Trudeau says government reviewing asylum system following Edmonton terror incident

Click to play video: 'Trudeau says government reviewing asylum system following Edmonton terror incident'
Trudeau says government reviewing asylum system following Edmonton terror incident

Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen says that while there’s no sign yet of a new influx, the government wants to be proactive.

Advertisement

Sponsored content

AdChoices