Why asylum seekers are choosing Canada in record numbers
Published
20 March
Photo of the end of Roxham Road leading to the Canadian border in the middle of a snowy February
IMAGE SOURCE,ELOISE ALANNA/BBC
Even in the bitter Canadian cold, a record number of migrants continue to cross from the US to Canada through Roxham Road
By Nadine Yousif
BBC News, Montreal
Last year, nearly 40,000 migrants crossed into Canada at an unofficial border crossing at the end of a remote rural road in upstate New York - a record number - to seek asylum. Many are driven by the belief that the country is more welcoming than the US. But can Canada handle the influx?
On a snowy winter day, Roxham Road is cold and quiet. The silence is interrupted by the sound of wheels approaching the end of the path, or the crunching of footsteps on snow. Around 150 migrants are dropped off here each day, determined to step foot into Canada. Many began their journey as far away as Brazil, with this road in New York state as their finish line.
Roxham Road is not an official border point. There are no border agents at the end of it, only police officers who arrest those who cross. But it has become known as an accessible spot to enter Canada from the US in order to claim asylum.
Last year marked the highest influx of migrants into Canada via that pathway - with thousands lured by the country's reputation for helping those fleeing war and conflict.
More:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64825197
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