Monday, December 22, 2025
ADVT 
National

Homeland Security takes steps to tighten asylum rules at Canadian border

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Aug, 2024 03:36 PM
  • Homeland Security takes steps to tighten asylum rules at Canadian border

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says people seeking asylum at the northern border with Canada will have less time to consult a lawyer before making their case.

The department says it reviewed the Safe Third Country Agreement with Canada and concluded that it could streamline the process.

The agreement states that Canada and the U.S. are considered safe countries for asylum seekers and it requires people to make a refugee claim in the country where they first arrive. 

The procedural change means people entering the U.S. from Canada will now have four hours to consult with lawyers instead of 24 hours, and asylum claimants must have documentary evidence with them when they arrive.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Joe Biden updated the Safe Third Country agreement last year, closing a loophole that allowed people who skirted official border crossings to make a claim.

Migration and security at the U.S.-Canada border has become a point of contention for some politicians ahead of the November election. 

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. finance minister Conroy says she'll retire after provincial election this fall

B.C. finance minister Conroy says she'll retire after provincial election this fall
British Columbia's finance minister has announced she won't be running again in the next provincial election after serving in the legislature for nearly two decades. Katrine Conroy said it will be hard to leave the people she's worked with over the years, but at 66, it's time to step back to spend time with her family.

B.C. finance minister Conroy says she'll retire after provincial election this fall

Mayor says Ottawa will reverse course on Israel national day event after cancellation

Mayor says Ottawa will reverse course on Israel national day event after cancellation
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says he wants the city to reverse course after cancelling an event to mark Israel's national day.

Mayor says Ottawa will reverse course on Israel national day event after cancellation

Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ+ groups for donation ban

Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ+ groups for donation ban
Canadian Blood Services says it has apologized to LGBTQ+ groups for a past policy that banned gay and bisexual men from donating blood.

Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ+ groups for donation ban

Canfor to close sawmill, curtail pulp production citing B.C. policy changes

Canfor to close sawmill, curtail pulp production citing B.C. policy changes
Canfor has announced it is permanently closing its Polar sawmill in Bear Lake, B.C., shutting a production line at its Northwood Pulp Mill in Prince George, and suspending its "planned reinvestment" in Houston, B.C.

Canfor to close sawmill, curtail pulp production citing B.C. policy changes

Immigration ministers to meet in Montreal over cuts to temporary visas

Immigration ministers to meet in Montreal over cuts to temporary visas
Federal and provincial immigration ministers will converge in Montreal Friday to puzzle out how to shrink the number of temporary residents in Canada while maintaining economic growth and the integrity of the overall system. 

Immigration ministers to meet in Montreal over cuts to temporary visas

Senior pepper sprayed in North Van

Senior pepper sprayed in North Van
Police in North Vancouver say they've arrested a suspect who allegedly pepper-sprayed an elderly woman and tried to steal her phone in January 2023. R-C-M-P say the attack took place under the guise of a Facebook Marketplace exchange in which the woman was trying to sell her phone.

Senior pepper sprayed in North Van