The Media Roundup provides links to recent and archived articles, in both English and French, on immigration and diversity appearing in the national and local news. Some international content is also included. Articles are updated weekly.
New York Times – In Shift, Trudeau Says Canada Will Return Asylum Seekers to U.S.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reversed his government’s open immigration stance and said Canada would begin turning back asylum seekers who walk in from the United States outside of official border crossings. “This is a temporary measure which we’ll put in place for as long as the coronavirus crisis lasts,” Mr. Trudeau said only days after his government said such asylum seekers would only be quarantined. “These are exceptional measures to protect citizens.”
CBC News – Canada to Turn Back Asylum Seekers, Close Border at Midnight to Stop Spread of COVID-19
Canada will now turn back asylum-seekers attempting to enter the country outside of official border points, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday — part of a set of extreme new measures meant to stop the spread of COVID-19. Asylum seekers were already barred from entering Canada at official border points under the Safe Third Country Agreement, but migrants have continued to arrive by foot at Roxham Road in Quebec in a steady flow due to an exception for non-official crossings under the agreement.
CTV News – Coronavirus: Closing Canada’s Border to Refugees Violates International Law, Experts Say
“Deeply disappointed by Justin Trudeau’s decision to shut down the Canada-US border to refugees, in contravention of international refugee law and arguably Canadian constitutional law,” wrote immigration law professor Sean Rehaag on Twitter just hours after Friday’s announcement. “Refugee claimants go through medical checks and self-isolation (at places like Roxham Road).” Reghaag wrote. “Closing down such routes pushes asylum seekers to cross surreptitiously, with no screening.”
CTV News – Canada-U.S. Border Now Closed to Non-Essential Travel
Canada’s shared border with the United States has officially closed to non-essential travel as part of a mutual effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. In his remarks on Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said irregular migrants will also be turned back to the U.S. when they reach the Canadian border. The new policy is part of an agreement with the U.S. that addresses concerns about the difficulty of screening refugee claimants for COVID-19 when they arrive.
Toronto Star – She Went with Her Employer to Mexico. Now this Filipina Nanny Can’t Get Back into Canada Because of the Pandemic
Mary Anne De Ramos arrived in Mexico this month with her vacationing Canadian employer. But now, the Filipina nanny is facing the prospect of being stranded indefinitely in Puerto Vallarta thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. As of Monday, Canada closed its border to anyone except Canadian citizens, permanent residents and Americans. Temporary residents such as those with valid student and work visas like De Ramos are not exempt.
Toronto Star – International Students Face Uncertainty on Whether They’ll Be Allowed Back into Canada
International students of Canadian universities who are abroad doing research, field work and internships face uncertainty about whether they can return because borders have been closed to help stop the spread of COVID-19. “It’s not entirely clear,” said Paul Davidson, president and CEO of Universities Canada, which advocates for Canadian universities at the federal level. “We’re working very hard to get an interpretation from government.”
