MONTREAL — The Canada Border Services Agency has reported a significant increase in asylum claims at the St-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing in Quebec, with claims doubling in April 2025. The agency recorded a total of 2,733 asylum claims in April, marking a rise from 1,356 claims in March and 755 in February of the same year.

This upward trend represents a dramatic fourfold increase compared to the same month last year, when only 670 asylum claims were submitted at the Quebec border crossing in April 2024. The surge in applications correlates with the Trump administration's efforts to remove legal protections from a substantial number of migrants in the United States, particularly targeting 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians who currently hold temporary protected status.

Despite the increase in claims at the St-Bernard-de-Lacolle crossing, the overall number of asylum requests filed across Canada has experienced a 50% decline compared to the previous year. The border agency has indicated a more aggressive approach to removals, having deported 1,439 claimants deemed inadmissible to Canada thus far in 2025.

Under the Safe Third Country Agreement, asylum seekers trying to enter Canada from the United States can only make claims if they fit into specific exceptions. This legal framework plays a crucial role in determining who can seek refuge in Canada, and the agency's actions reflect a stringent enforcement of these regulations.

The situation at the Quebec border crossing underscores the complex dynamics of immigration and asylum policies in North America. As asylum seekers continue to navigate these challenging circumstances, the implications of U.S. immigration policies resonate across the border and shape the landscape of refugee claims in Canada.