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Rempel: Asylum Seekers and Migrants

rempel: Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel suggested the issue of irregular migrants has not gotten better, noting that the total number of asylum seekers so far for this year 14,125, federal data shows is higher than during the same period in 2017 when 13,221 irregular migrants were counted, according to National Observer. The problem is getting worse, Rempel said. Statistics published Tuesday by the federal government shows the Mounties apprehended 1,747 irregular migrants between official border crossings in August, a jump of 113 from July, marking the second consecutive month of increases following a downward trend that began in May. ; Overall, this summer saw less than half of the just over 8,800 irregular migrants who crossed into Canada during July and August last year. Rempel has repeatedly called on the Liberals to close a loophole in the Safe Third Country agreement between Canada and the United States, which has been cited as a major factor in the ongoing stream of asylum seekers crossing the Canada U.S. border through non official entry points. Border Security Minister Bill Blair said he has asked to meet with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to discuss ways to modernize the agreement and continued to defend the government's handling of the border during the daily question period. The agreement prevents asylum seekers from asking for refugee protection when they present themselves at an official port of entry, which is why thousands have crossed the border on foot so they can get into the country and claim what they would likely be denied at an official entry point. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.