The US-Mexico border isn’t the only place where the impact of President-elect Donald Trump’s immigration policies is likely to be keenly felt. Major changes are likely to come to the US-Canada border as well.
Trump’s Plans for the Northern Border
Tom Homan, who Trump recently named his "border czar," has sought to sound the alarm about immigrants entering the US without authorization via the Canadian border, and has outlined plans to make entering the US through its northern border more difficult. Canada is also bracing for a potential influx of immigrants if Trump moves forward with his plans for mass deportations and to end temporary protections for more than 1 million immigrants in the United States.
Canada Bracing for an Influx of Immigrants
Canadian authorities are reportedly preparing for a wave of immigrants arriving from the US under a second Trump presidency, just as they saw beginning in his first. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police recorded an increase in irregular border crossings between 2016 and 2023 — from only a few hundred arrivals in a three-month period to over 14,000 at their peak, resulting in part from Trump’s immigration policies.
Implementing Changes
Homan said in an interview with a local TV station in New York earlier this month that the northern border constitutes an "extreme national security vulnerability," citing increasing numbers of migrant encounters in recent years, including of hundreds of people on the US terror watchlist. Border agents recorded almost 199,000 encounters along the northern border in fiscal year 2024, which ended in October, compared to about 110,000 just two years before.
Canada’s Response
Canada’s plans mark a departure from Trudeau’s previously open-arms approach to immigrants during the first Trump administration, one that reflects a broader change in Canadians’ feelings about immigration. The Canadian government also intends to enforce its so-called "Safe Third Country" agreement with the US, which states Canada has the right to deport asylum seekers who travel through the US before trying to claim asylum in Canada. Those migrants would then have to apply for asylum in the US.
Conclusion
The US-Canada border is likely to be a flashpoint in the coming years, as Trump’s immigration policies take effect. Canada is bracing for a potential influx of immigrants, and the country is preparing to implement changes to its own immigration policies. The situation is likely to be a complex and evolving one, with implications for both countries and their relationships with each other.
FAQs
Q: What are the current plans for the US-Canada border?
A: Tom Homan, Trump’s "border czar," has outlined plans to make entering the US through its northern border more difficult, citing concerns about national security and the number of migrants attempting to cross the border without authorization.
Q: What is the current state of US-Canada relations on immigration?
A: The relationship between the two countries has become increasingly strained, with Canada bracing for a potential influx of immigrants if Trump moves forward with his plans for mass deportations and to end temporary protections for more than 1 million immigrants in the United States.
Q: How has Canada’s approach to immigration changed over time?
A: Canada’s approach to immigration has shifted from an open-arms policy to a more restrictive one, reflecting a broader change in Canadians’ feelings about immigration.