The RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency say they are prepared to manage any potential surge of illegal immigrants crossing from the United States, as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office next Monday.
Blacklock's Reporter estimates suggest 700,000 undocumented immigrants reside in U.S. border states.
Deputy RCMP Commissioner Bryan Larkin emphasized the need for readiness, calling the situation speculative but stressing operational preparedness.
“I think it’s important for us to recognize that we need the ability, if there is an emergency or a crisis anywhere across our country, to mobilize,” Larkin said.
“The RCMP is heavily focused on, how do we do that?”
“What’s our operational planning? How do we move resources and support our colleagues at the Canada Border Services Agency and other police services? I would say it’s going remarkably well in partnership with our provinces and territories.”
Immigration Minister Marc Miller underscored Canada’s commitment to strict border enforcement.
“They need to make sure that any migration that may occur in an unplanned way to Canada doesn’t occur,” Miller said. “Those folks are not welcome to Canada if they are doing so in an irregular fashion.”
Public Safety Minister David McGuinty acknowledged the uncertainty around potential border crossings. “Answering that question would be speculative right now,” McGuinty said when asked about the possible magnitude of asylum claims.
Erin O’Gorman, president of the Canada Border Services Agency, assured reporters that contingencies were in place.
“The Agency has contingencies in place,” she said. “I would just point out the Safe Third Country Agreement remains in place. That’s an important tool for both Canada and the United States. We’re implementing it every day.”
The 2004 Safe Third Country Agreement bars refugee claims from individuals crossing into Canada from the U.S. at regular ports of entry. The Supreme Court of Canada upheld the treaty’s constitutionality in 2023.
Some MPs have previously voiced their support for strict border policies. “Get in line,” then-Conservative MP Larry Miller said during a 2017 Commons immigration committee hearing. “There is no such thing in people’s minds, mine included, as a refugee from the United States. It’s just not there.”
