Advocates brace for possible influx of Haitian asylum seekers as U.S. protections end
Advocates in Montreal are preparing for a potential influx of Haitian asylum seekers following the U.S. decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Legal experts warn that while many may attempt to enter Canada, strict border policies and the Safe Third Country Agreement create significant barriers.
Why it matters
The expiration of U.S. protections for 300,000 Haitians creates a humanitarian crisis that could strain Canadian immigration systems and increase reliance on human smugglers.
Organizations that support asylum seekers in Montreal say they are preparing for a potential increase in demand after the United States ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 300,000 Haitians.
Advocates warn the change leaves many Haitians vulnerable to detention or deportation despite ongoing violence and instability in their home country.
“Now 350,000 people are officially non-status or illegal, so it’s going to be a fair game for ICE and Haitians are gonna be the first ones targeted,” said Frantz André of the Action Committee for People Without Status.
TPS, which had allowed Haitians to live and work legally in the U.S. on a temporary basis, officially expired Monday. The measure also affected approximately 6,000 Syrians.
Immigration and refugee lawyer Fedora Mathieu called the decision “inhumane,” pointing to the security crisis in Haiti, where gang violence has displaced thousands and left many residents living in fear.
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