By Ketki Saxena
Investing.com – As the opening ceremonies for US President Joe Biden take place today in Ottawa to discuss bilateral relations between the two nations, one key policy decision has been confirmed by an official with the administration of President Joe Biden.
As per the official, Canada and the United States have agreed to have asylum seekers turned back at irregular border crossings across the 8900 kilometers of the border, including Roxham Road in Quebec, 50 kilometers south of Montreal.
While details are still being negotiated, the leaders agreed in principle.
A Canadian government official with knowledge of the talks noted that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Biden would discuss the issue during a bilateral meeting Friday.
Under such a deal, migrants who continue to cross at Roxham road or any other unofficial crossing would be returned to the United States to make an asylum claim there. This is the procedure for formal border crossings as the Safe Third Country Agreement, first signed between the U.S. and Canada in 2004.
Under the agreement asylum seekers must make their claim in whichever country they arrive first. The rule currently applies only to official border crossings, but will now be extended to Roham road and other unofficial crossings, which an increasing number of migrants have used to circumvent the Safe Third Country Agreement. Taking this route means they can stay in Canada while waiting for a hearing, or for their case to be decided.
Last year, 39,000 people claimed asylum after crossing the unofficial border point into Quebec.