Asylum processing at the U.S. border with Canada is set to happen more quickly. Changes include reducing the time asylum seekers have to consult with lawyers to just 24 hours after they arrive, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). New rules from the “Safe Third Country” agreement with Canada will take effect, affecting how asylum is handled at the northern border.
Under the Safe Third Country agreement, migrants must seek asylum in the first country they enter after leaving their home country. Both the U.S. and Canada can remove people who try to cross the border to seek asylum in the other country. For example, if a migrant goes to Canada but doesn’t apply for asylum there and then crosses into the U.S. to claim asylum, they can be removed.
Before, people could ask for safety in the U.S. while they gathered documents for an exemption. Now, asylum officers will only look at documents that the migrant has with them during the screening. The option to gather documents after requesting safety is no longer available. People can still ask for an exemption at the border without documentation. However, the details of these exemption requirements are not yet clear.
The new procedures for asylum at the northern border are somewhat similar to those at the U.S. southern border, but not nearly as strict. Asylum processing between ports of entry is currently on hold at the southern border. These updates are intended to help immigration officials process asylum claims more quickly and deport those who do not qualify faster.
In fiscal year 2022, there were over 100,000 encounters with migrants at the northern border. This is a significant increase from just over 27,000 in fiscal year 2021. In fiscal year 2023, there were more than 189,000 encounters, and by June 2024, there have been about 145,000.
As always, we actively monitor ongoing updates to U.S. immigration policy. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration-related issue, contact us. Our team of experienced attorneys work with our clients every step of the way to ensure they receive proper guidance.