RCMP Preparing for Potential Ramp-Up in Illegal Border Crossings Into Canada Following Trump Win

An asylum seeker is questioned by an RCMP officer as he crosses the border into Canada from the United States near Champlain, New York, on Aug. 21, 2017. The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson

The RCMP has created contingency plans for an increase in illegal border crossings in light of the fact that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to enact deportations of illegal immigrants.

“We’ve got a contingency plan with different types of scenarios, because we know that the Trump administration might have an effect on irregular or illegal migration,” said Sgt. Charles Poirier from Quebec’s C Division.

Poirier told The Epoch Times that the national police force has begun identifying officers who could assist with border enforcement, and is also looking for logistical assets like buildings and buses to be used to manage an influx of migrants. He said the RCMP has plans for both a small increase in border crossings, as well as a “complete crisis” seen at the beginning of Trump’s first presidency in 2016.

Poirier said the border crossing between Quebec and the United States has long been an “easy crossing point” for illegal immigrants, and the RCMP does not expect that to change. “Whenever you Google or do an online search as to how to come into Canada, Quebec is the first result that you get. There are some tutorials on how to do this on YouTube or whatnot,” he said.

“So if it does happen, it’s more than likely that it’s going to happen in Quebec, predominantly.”

Trump, who beat Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris to become the president of the United States for a second time, said at a rally in October that he would begin the “largest deportation operation in American history” when he becomes president.

Illegal crossings along the Canada–U.S. border have skyrocketed over the last three years, with border officials apprehending 189,401 illegal immigrants in 2023, compared to 27,180 in 2021.

In March 2023, Canada and the United States announced changes to the Safe Third Country Agreement, which closed down the Roxham Road border crossing between New York state and Quebec that was being used by migrants to make unsanctioned crossings.

The agreement previously contained a loophole where it was only illegal to make a refugee claim at official border crossings, but unofficial crossings like Roxham were not illegal. But the changes made this no longer possible along the 9,000-kilometre border.

During a press conference on Nov. 6, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland sought to assure Canadians that the government is in control of the border.

“We absolutely recognize the importance of border security and of controlling your own border, of controlling who comes into Canada and who doesn’t, and we will do that,” she told reporters.