OTTAWA, Canada — With the political landscape in the United States shifting, Canadian officials are on high alert as concerns grow over a potential rise in migration at the US-Canada border. As US President-elect Donald Trump readies to take office, his hardline stance on immigration has led to worries that Canada may see an influx of migrants seeking refuge.
Trump, who has vowed to carry out one of the largest deportations in US history, has made no secret of his harsh rhetoric against immigrants. In his previous term from 2017 to 2021, a significant number of migrants, including thousands of Haitians who lost their protected status in the US, fled north to Canada.
In a statement to the press, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) spokesperson Sergeant Charles Poirier emphasized Canada’s preparedness: “We are on high alert, keeping a close watch on the border to anticipate any increase in irregular migration. The reality is, the policies from the US administration could directly impact the flow of migrants into Canada.”
To manage this potential surge, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland held a high-level meeting on Friday with other government officials to address any issues arising from the upcoming change in US leadership. Though Freeland refrained from sharing specifics, she reassured the public that Canada has a strategy in place to handle any challenges.
“We are prepared for what lies ahead,” Freeland said during a brief news conference. “Canadians should feel confident that our borders are safe, secure, and under our control.”
However, while Canada ramps up its readiness, it is also scaling back its immigration targets. In an effort to better manage resources and infrastructure, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has made the decision to limit the country’s population growth. This is in response to the strain that many provinces, such as Quebec, are already feeling due to high migration numbers and limited housing availability.
Concerns about migration surged in the wake of the US presidential election, with online searches related to moving to Canada skyrocketing. Google Trends data shows a tenfold increase in search queries for terms like “immigrate to Canada” and “Canada immigration process,” particularly among US residents opposed to Trump’s policies.
Although the legal status of individuals making these inquiries remains unclear, there have been reports of US citizens looking for alternatives to living under the new administration. The Canadian government, however, has made it clear that crossing into Canada illegally — especially through border regions outside of designated checkpoints — is both illegal and perilous.
The RCMP’s Poirier highlighted the dangers of attempting to cross the border in harsh winter conditions, stressing that past attempts have led to severe injuries and even fatalities. “The cold weather can be deadly. We’ve had instances of people suffering frostbite, hypothermia, and in some cases, even death,” Poirier warned.
In response to the situation, Canadian authorities are deploying additional personnel along the world’s longest unmilitarized border. Surveillance technology, including cameras, drones, and sensors, has been installed to monitor the border, and real-time information is being shared between Canada and the US to enhance security and response efforts.
While Canadian officials are bracing for possible challenges, they remain committed to ensuring that their borders remain secure, even as the global political climate shifts and tensions over immigration continue to rise. The coming months will reveal whether Canada will face a wave of new arrivals, or whether a combination of preparation and policy changes will be enough to maintain control.
