Despite Trump's vile record on the treatment of those attempting to enter the US, Trudeau has agreed to return to the United States those border crossers who do not enter Canada at official border crossing, but instead enter elsewhere, such as Roxham Road in Quebec.
Canada’s decision to start handing over irregular migrants to U.S. authorities is “letting fear drive policy,” as it did when ethnic Japanese were detained during the Second World War, says the director of a prominent refugee organization.
Refugee 613 director Louisa Taylor said she was “heartbroken” when she heard that Canada had reached an agreement with the United States to hand over irregular migrants, a term for people who have crossed into Canada outside official border entry points, such as at Roxham Road in Quebec to claim asylum.
“This is a sad day for Canada. We are knowingly creating chaos, uncertainty and significant risk for people whose only crime is asking for safety,” Taylor told National Observer.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sought to assure Canadians Friday that his government was “comfortable” that the new policy is in line with “Canada's values on the treatment of refugees and vulnerable people.” He also said the new measure would be temporary, and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair added later that there “will be necessary and limited exceptions.” ...
Trudeau made the announcement at the end of an unprecedented week in Canadian history, as Ottawa lifted the lid on a no-holds-barred plan to slow the spread of the coronavirus throughout the nation. More than 10,000 people have died globally from COVID-19 and there are now 915 cases in Canada and 10 deaths. ...
“I get it. We are all scared. I'm scared,” said Taylor, whose organization, Refugee 613, is a communications hub that encourages people to welcome refugees as the building blocks of strong communities. But letting fear drive policy has always been a bad idea — think of the Chinese head tax, the internment of the Japanese in World War II — and it pains me that we are giving in to that fear today, precisely at the moment we should be rising above it.”
On Friday, Trudeau tightened the screws further, closing the door to irregular migrants, effectively shutting them out of the country’s immigration and refugee system by turning them back to U.S. authorities immediately instead of hearing their claims.
“This is a sad day for Canada. We are knowingly creating chaos, uncertainty and significant risk for people whose only crime is asking for safety." @refugee613 director on Canada's deal to turn away irregular migrants crossing U.S. border
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/03/20/news/decision-hand-over-irre...