A family from Haiti was split up at the Quebec-U.S. border this season due to a “legal loophole,” which experts fear could escalate as more migrants move from the United States to Canada. The family tried to enter Canada at the Lacolle official land crossing in March, as per immigration records. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) allowed only the father to enter because he has a close relative in Canada, while his pregnant wife and seven-year-old daughter were denied entry.
After three weeks, the mother, facing pregnancy complications, paid smugglers nearly $4,000 to help her and her daughter cross the border on foot through melting snow to reunite with the father. Immigration lawyer Paule Robitaille criticized the decision to separate the family, emphasizing that it should not have happened.
With the increase in migrants seeking asylum in Canada from the U.S., concerns arise about more families facing separation due to restrictions outlined in a bilateral agreement between the two countries. The family’s decision to come to Canada was influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions threatening a humanitarian program created by his predecessor, Joe Biden, which led to the family’s entry into the U.S.
The mother and daughter, assisted by a migrant rights organization, resorted to smuggling as a means to reunite with the father in Canada. Despite challenges, the family managed to cross the border and are now navigating the complexities of the immigration process in Canada.
The family’s experience sheds light on the complexities and challenges faced by migrants seeking asylum in Canada, highlighting the need for more comprehensive and humane immigration policies to address these issues effectively.