Roxham Road crossings still an issue

Dec. 9—PLATTSBURGH — Is there still a migration crisis at Roxham Road?

Though the unofficial U.S.-Canadian border crossing in Champlain, which leads into Quebec, has been closed since March, Dr. Kristine Plouffe-Malette, an assistant professor at the Université de Sherbrooke in Quebec, worked to answer the question of what has become of it as she presented her research project on Roxham Road Wednesday.

"It's obvious now, there's been nothing going on officially at Roxham Road," Plouffe-Malette said at the Distinguished Fulbright Chair Lecture, hosted by SUNY Plattsburgh's Institute on Québec Studies in Krinovitz Recital Hall.

"So anyone could ask, if there's nothing going on, why should we still talk about Roxham Road now and tonight? Well, my short answer would be, because it's not over, at least in Quebec and in Canada, but I could also say in the United States."

In March of this year, the United States and Canada renegotiated the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) closed irregular entry points like Roxham Road after the number of migrants crossing into Canada reached historic levels.

Plouffe-Malette said the closure came in order to limit the number of asylum seekers entering Canada from the United States through irregular entry points like Roxham Road.

According to Plouffe-Malette's presentation, which included data from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), in January, there were 4,875 interceptions of migrants entering into Quebec; 4,517 in February; and 4,087 in March.

After the renegotiated STCA was in place, the number of interceptions dropped considerably to 69 in April; 46 in May; 30 in June; 42 in July; 53 in August; 59 in September; and 30 in October.

The numbers likely dropped because those crossing at unofficial entry points do not have the right to claim asylum anymore, due to the updated STCA.

Additionally, other stipulations now state that if a refugee is in Canada for more than 14 days, they are no longer subject to expulsion from the country, which has caused migrants to potentially avoid detection by putting themselves in dangerous situations. This can be especially true in the winter months in the North Country, Plouffe-Malette noted in the question and answer period.

These alterations to the STCA in March also gave the United States and Canada the ability to turn away refugees who entered either country. Plouffe-Malette said there were some exceptions to this, and they included a family member in Canada, unaccompanied minors, holder of a residence permit (temporary visa), or public interest.

Following the renegotiated STCA, the facilities located at Roxham Road in Quebec were also torn down in September, she said, signaling to migrants that nobody would be waiting for them there.

However, Plouffe-Malette said a quick search on Google Maps shows an old picture of Roxham Road when the buildings and facilities were still standing, which may give migrants a false sense of security that people will be waiting there to greet them when they arrive.

"So maybe, we need to update something there."

So is there still a crisis?

Plouffe-Malette thinks so, because the closure of Roxham Road did not stop the increase to asylum claims in Canada for 2023. She said instead of heading to Roxham Road, migrants arrived at Canadian airports instead.

Additionally, there are legality issues surrounding the STCA.

"The plaintiffs in this action claim that the STCA violates women's right to equality when Canada sends migrant women back to the United States," Plouffe-Malette said.

"We're still waiting for the first decision, but this case will go all the way to the Supreme Court. The decision could have the effect ... on the American asylum system and who knows what effect this will have on ... any US-Canadian relation."

Email: cnewton@pressrepublican.com

Twitter: CarlySNewton