The number of refugees and migrants fleeing the U.S. to make asylum claims in Quebec continue to rise drastically – jumping by 40 per cent in just a month.
Canada Border Services Agency reports 635 claims were made last month in Quebec, over six times the number at the same point in 2016. It also accounts January saw 452 claims made by land in the province.
This includes both legal and illegal crossings; the latest data on illegal entries into Canada made outside Quebec border crossings number about 190 over the first seven weeks of 2017.
Refugee advocates claim the number seeking asylum in Canada has been growing steadily because of the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has sought to crack down on illegal immigrants and travel from predominantly-Muslim countries.