Emilio Rodriguez, CPJ’s Policy Analyst for Refugee and Migrant Rights, shared his expertise with Maisonneuve Magazine, discussing why the latest developments are further endangering refugee claimants seeking protection in Canada.
“The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) has been receiving increased attention as Canada recently announced an additional protocol that came into effect on March 25, creating significant barriers to those seeking asylum in Canada,” writes Rena Namago, CPJ’s Public Justice Intern. “This article responds to common misconceptions around the agreement and elaborates on its impacts…
The Trump administration announced new immigration rules ending asylum protections for almost all migrants who arrive at the US-Mexico border. The changes are likely to have a domino effect on Canada with which the US signed the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) in 2004. It is time for Canada, as a world leader in refugee rights protection, to end the STCA.
Tune into Question Period in the House of Commons and you will periodically hear the words “close the loophole” being thrown around in heated debates concerning refugee claimants. It is a catchphrase used by some Members of Parliament to describe the changes they wish to see in the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA). Its usage has become increasingly popular in the House and has yielded headlines across the country. Yet, it remains unclear what supporters of the loophole narrative are trying to propose.
On July 5, the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR); The Canadian Council of Churches (CCC), of which Project Ploughshares is an operating division; and Amnesty International (AI) launched a case in the Federal Court of Canada to challenge the designation of the United States as a “safe third country” for refugees as this designation pertains to the…