Trudeau, border crossers task force to review next steps for asylum seekers
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will participate Wednesday in a Montreal meeting with the federal-provincial task force charged with managing an unprecedented flow of asylum seekers over the Canada-U.S. border.
While officials say the number of those crossing into Quebec has declined to about 140 a day this week compared to from 250 a day last week, the federal government continues to ramp up its ability to process their claims for refugee status — and to be ready for a potential new spike in arrivals.
More than 6,000 people have crossed illegally into Quebec from New York since July, the vast majority Haitians. They’re believed to be fleeing an announcement by the U.S. government that it is considering lifting temporary protected status for Haitian nationals, meaning thousands could end up deported back to Haiti.
But they’re not the only group facing that policy change: temporary protected status for citizens from nine other countries is set to expire in the coming months and there’s no guarantee the U.S. will renew it.