“Human Rights First notes that the Trump administration’s treatment of asylum seekers is now even worse than it was at the time evidence was submitted in this case,” the non-partisan American group said in a statement. The Trudeau government has until Jan. 22 to determine how to proceed. According to the Canadian government, since Trump took office, more than 58,000 refugee claims have been made by "irregular border crossers" — refugees who didn't enter through official ports. Republication or distribution of this content is Advocates involved in the case, as well as asylum experts familiar with the ruling, praised the decision as a significant win for the rights of refugees — and a damning indictment of U.S. policies under President Trump. The organizations that sued Ottawa over the agreement called on the government to immediately comply with the spirit of the ruling and to decline to appeal it. “The government recognizes the extraordinary contribution of asylum claimants working in Canada’s health-care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic particularly in long-term care centres,” said immigration minister Marco Mendicino, “As these individuals face an uncertain future in Canada, the current circumstances merit exceptional measures in recognition of their service during the pandemic.” Upon her release from solitary, she spent the next three weeks among the general prison population, where she said was held in a "freezing cold" facility with people who had been convicted of crimes. rights reserved. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Canadian court rules Canada-U.S. asylum deal unconstitutional. Refugees are returned to the U.S. "based on the understanding that they will have access to a fair refugee determination process," McDonald wrote. "Imprisonment and the attendant consequences are inconsistent with the spirit and objective of the STCA.". Because she had arrived in the U.S. after the cut-off date to apply for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, she couldn't get proper documentation to continue her studies in the country. She entered the country on a visitor's visa and ended up staying for several years, graduating from a Georgia high school in 2015. To order copies of Migrants on the frontlines. Asylum-seekers who enter Canada irregularly in-between official land border posts will temporarily be sent back to the United States and be able to come back at the Canadian border once the measure is lifted. How many people will continue to attempt to enter Canada irregularly may change in the coming months, in the wake of a Federal Court decision Wednesday that the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the U.S. violates the charter. OTTAWA—The number of asylum claims being filed in Canada continues to rise slightly despite ongoing global travel restrictions. The "Safe Third Country Agreement" denies refugees the right to enter Canada if they had crossed through another country that offers human rights protections. Canada-U.S. Asylum Treaty Ruled Unconstitutional Because Of 'Cruel' Conditions For years, refugees seeking asylum at the official ports of entry on the Canadian border have been turned back. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. Canada's Parliament Hill in Ottawa. There were also multiple claims at marine ports. The agreement will stay in place for another six months to give Parliament time to respond. “In light of the court’s decision and this ongoing deterioration, Human Rights First urges the Canadian government to take this opportunity to withdraw from the ‘safe third country’ agreement.’”. Some said they were fleeing gang violence, some persecution based on their gender. To Harris, the U.S. treatment of asylum-seekers since Trump took office "defies logic, morality, and also international law," she said. “The Safe Third Country Agreement has been the source of grave human rights violations for many years, unequivocally confirmed in this ruling," said Alex Neve, secretary general of Amnesty International Canada. For information about our work in Canada:.