In January, the Quebec border crossing at Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle witnessed a surge in asylum claims from Haitian individuals who had been residing in the United States.
Last November, the Trump Administration made a decision to terminate temporary protective status (TPS) for the 350,000 Haitian immigrants in the U.S. However, on Tuesday, a U.S. federal judge temporarily halted this move.
Recent data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reveals that Haitians have accounted for the highest number of asylum claims processed at CBSA land border points of entry as of February 1. This includes individuals who crossed irregularly between entry points and were then taken to a land border for processing.
Between January 1 and February 1, 2026, a total of 797 asylum applications were submitted at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle crossing, marking a roughly 28% increase compared to the same period the previous year.
Keyphrase: Haitian asylum claims
