US-Canada deal reached to turn migrants back at unofficial border crossings: Local media

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) — The US and Canadian governments have reportedly reached an agreement to stop migrants from entering through unofficial border crossings between the two countries, local media reported.

The deal is expected to be announced on Friday during US President Joe Biden's visit to Ottawa, alongside Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to Canadian daily The Globe and Mail.

According to local media, the deal is an update to the 2002 Safe Third Country Agreement, which allowed arrivals to apply for asylum in the first safe country they reach, be it the US or Canada.

Under the new accord, migrants would be stopped and turned back from Roxham Road, an unofficial border crossing running between the US state of New York and Quebec, Canada that is reportedly often used by irregular migrants who intend to seek asylum in Canada.

The decision was taken to curb the increase of migrants traveling between the two countries. The new agreement could be brought in effect without approval of US congress, media reported.

Rights groups, however, have condemned the move, with the Canada-based Migrant Rights Network coalition releasing a statement slamming the agreement and saying that it would prompt people to opt for more dangerous routes.

"Closing it will only force migrants to take even more dangerous routes because the Safe Third Country Agreement and other immigration laws do not allow migrants more dignified or safer ways of crossing to travel or seek asylum in either country, a right that is protected under international law," it said.

According to the statement, around 20,891 people crossed into Canada by foot to claim asylum in 2022. "This is a comparatively small number," said the statement, adding that 616,429 Ukrainians had been approved for travel to Canada since 2022.

"We call on Prime Minister Trudeau to end the Safe Third Country Agreement, to ensure migrants can safely cross the US-Canada border, and to ensure equal rights through permanent resident status for all migrants."