Border Crossings: Asylum Seekers and Border

border crossings: Immigration advocates have been calling on the government to suspend the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, which has been cited as a major factor in the spike of irregular border crossings, according to Vancouver Courier. The agreement prevents asylum seekers from asking for refugee protection when they present themselves at an official port of entry. Making such a change would give the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency more tools to deal with an ongoing influx of asylum seekers crossing the border at unofficial entry points in Quebec and Ontario, Rempel said in an interview Thursday.article continues below Trending Stories The Sellution is moving back to Main Street SeaBus hero 'The important thing is that you do something in these situations'Vancouver police looking for witnesses after parishioners locked in church Richmond lawyer claims bank failed to spot suspicious transactions I just really feel that unless we address this issue this is going to be unending and it's unsustainable, she said. They can only claim refugee status from inside Canada, which is why thousands have been crossing through unofficial entry points on foot. But Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale's office was quick to shut down the idea, saying it would create even greater problems and dangers along the 9,000-kilometre border. If Ottawa doesn't close that loophole, turning the entire border an official port of entry could offer an alternative solution, Rempel said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.