Canada Prepares for Influx of Immigrants Fearing Trump’s Massive Deportations

Last Update:09 November 2024 19:38 IST

With US President-elect Donald Trump promising mass deportations, many fear a sudden increase in illegal and irregular border crossings into Canada

US President-elect Donald Trump with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (AP file photo)

Canada is on “high alert” as it prepares for a potential increase in illegal and irregular border crossings from the United States, with US President-elect Donald Trump promising mass deportations.

Trump’s deportation plan mirrors the situation during his first term, when thousands of immigrants, including Haitians, fled north after losing U.S. protection. Canadian officials are now preparing for this scenario to happen again.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Sergeant Charles Poirier said the Canadian border remains under close surveillance. “All our eyes are looking at the border to see what will happen,” he said, acknowledging that Trump’s immigration policies could lead to “illegal and irregular immigration” to Canada.

canada’s plan

In Ottawa, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland assured Canadians that the government has a plan to manage any increase in immigrant arrivals, but specific details were not released.

“We have a plan,” he said at a press conference after the meeting, without giving details. “Canadians need to know: our borders are safe and secure and we control them.”

But Canada is also grappling with its own immigration issues. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government recently lowered immigration targets and focused on slowing population growth while strengthening infrastructure and social services.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault has expressed concerns about the pressure a potential influx of immigrants could put on the province’s housing and resources.

ALSO READ: Huge Increase in the USA Google Searched for ‘How to Move to Scotland’ After Trump’s Victory

Searches for ‘How to Move to Canada’ Increased

Following the US election results in which Trump’s Republicans won, there was a dramatic increase in online searches for moving to Canada.

According to Google Trends, terms like ” are searched forimmigrate to canada,” “Canada immigration process,” And “How do I move to Canada“It increased tenfold after the election results.

Although the exact motivations behind these searches are unclear, many US citizens opposed to Trump’s return to power are reportedly seeking information on Canadian immigration services.

While interest in moving is increasing, the process is not progressing quickly. The Canadian government estimates that permanent resident applications may take up to a year to process, while refugee requests may take even longer.

RCMP also warned of the dangers of trying to cross the border irregularly, especially during the winter months when conditions can be deadly.

“We understand the misery and fear that drive people to cross into Canada (through forests, fields or across lakes and rivers), but there are real dangers,” Poirier warned.

“The weather is starting to get colder. We’ve seen some tragedies in the past. People were severely frostbitten and had to have amputations. People also experienced severe hypothermia,” he said.

Poirier also said authorities are preparing for an increase in border activity, deploying additional personnel and using technologies such as drones and sensors to monitor the border.

(With inputs from AFP)

ALSO READ: ‘Get Them Out’: Donald Trump Plans to Withdraw US Troops from Northern Syria