Migrants line up on the border of the United States, foreground, and Canada, background, at a reception center for irregular borders crossers, in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Que., on Jan. 12, 2022.Wilson Ring/The Associated Press
RCMP in Quebec say they have prepared contingency plans in case of an influx of migrants from the United States after Donald Trump’s victory, as Quebec Premier François Legault and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet raised fears about asylum claimants streaming into the province.
Mr. Legault warned about “turbulence” at the border, saying Wednesday that he expects a stream of asylum seekers from the U.S. and arguing that the capacity of Quebec to integrate new arrivals had already been exceeded.
Mr. Blanchet challenged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Commons about whether Canada was prepared to deal with such an influx. He said there could be millions of people in the U.S. who may want to leave and a significant number could come to Canada.
Mr. Trudeau replied that Ottawa would protect the integrity of Canadian borders.
During his campaign, Mr. Trump pledged to conduct the largest deportation in American history of people living there illegally. There are an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants in the U.S. and Mr. Trump’s running mate JD Vance estimated the U.S. could remove one million people per year.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland on Wednesday tried to reassure Canadians that the government would remain in control of its borders.
“I do want to assure Canadians that we absolutely recognize the importance to border security and of controlling our own border, of controlling who comes into Canada and who doesn’t,” she said.
The Quebec RCMP said it has already drawn up a plan to increase surveillance at the province’s border in case of an increase in crossings from the U.S.
Sergeant Charles Poirier said in an interview that the Mounties have held meetings with the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. border agents about its contingency plans, which include bringing in police from other provinces to boost patrols in case of a surge in illegal border crossings.
He said the RCMP had drawn up a number of scenarios – ranging from dealing with only a few families to handling hundreds of people crossing every day.
Plans include bringing in more cruisers to help with surveillance of the border area. He said the RCMP may also have to help people being dropped off at the border by smugglers and getting lost in the woods. During the cold winter months, people crossing illegally risk perilous conditions and frost bite and hypothermia, he said.
“A few months ago we started working on this contingency plan should he [Donald Trump] win and go ahead with some of their immigration policies,” he said.
In the past, he said just the threat of deportation in the U.S. had prompted a rush to the Canadian border.
Sgt. Poirier said the RCMP are powerless to send people back who cross the border to claim asylum.
In 2017, Haitians streamed into Canada from the U.S. after the first Trump administration ended temporary protected status for Haitians who had fled to the U.S. The policy sparked an influx of Haitians claiming asylum at the irregular Roxham Road border-crossing into Quebec.
After talks with the U.S., Roxham Road was closed in 2023.
Renée Proctor, spokesperson for Immigration Minister Marc Miller, said in an e-mailed statement that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada “will continue to prepare and anticipate all possible scenarios.”
Luke Reimer, spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency, said “we are ready to respond and adapt as needed.”
Immigration lawyer Richard Kurland said Canada should prepare for “mass arrivals.”
“In my mind there is no doubt that Canada is about to experience a tsunami of people seeking safety in Canada” he said. He said it was inevitable that Canada would face an influx from south of the border, not just from undocumented residents, but also U.S. citizens with concerns about the election result.
Mr. Kurland said within hours of the Trump victory, he received calls from people exploring moving to Canada.
He said asylum claims from the U.S. were rarely approved. But applying for asylum could mean that people facing deportation in the U.S. could find a safe haven and “buy time” as it can take years for a claim to work its way through Canada’s system.