The number of asylum seekers arriving at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle port of entry at the U.S.-Quebec border has risen sharply in recent weeks, according to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Border authorities have reportedly reinstalled about a dozen trailers to accommodate them, should they be needed, as they did during the 2022 migrant crisis.
According to figures provided by the CBSA, and confirmed by CityNews, asylum claims made in Lacolle since the beginning of July have increased fivefold compared to the same period last year.
So far, this July has seen 3,089 claims, while July 2024 saw 613.
READ MORE: Spike in asylum seekers at Quebec’s Lacolle border, more claims in first of week of July than all of May
Since the beginning of the year, 10,724 asylum claims have been received at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle port of entry, compared to 5,077 for the same period in 2024.
The top claims by nationality are from Haiti, Venezuela, and the U.S.
The CBSA says it has plans in place “to maintain a secure border in the event of an influx of refugee claimants,” including strengthening operational capacity by deploying personnel to where they are most needed; upgrading infrastructure, such as installing portable washrooms and fitting up vacant rooms with office equipment; and securing additional IT equipment, infrastructure and supplies, for example by leasing nearby facilities to provide additional processing space and installing remote connectivity for processing asylum seekers and holding individuals who need to be returned to the U.S.
“At the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle port of entry, the CBSA worked with Public Services and Procurement Canada to lease additional space so the CBSA can fulfill its mandate. The leased space is ready to be used as required to help process refugee claimants,” a statement reads.
According to the information provided by the CBSA, the number of asylum claims processed across the country has in fact decreased by 46 per cent compared to last year.
In Quebec, the number of applications processed since the beginning of the year is 14,874, compared to 22,337 for the same period last year.
In March 2023, Canada and the U.S. announced an additional protocol to the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA).
Under the Safe Third Country Agreement, it is not possible to seek asylum when arriving via the U.S. unless you meet an exception, such as having a family member in Canada.
From January 1 to July 28, 2025, 2,537 asylum claimants were removed to the U.S. for their ineligibility under the STCA.
