A warning sign is posted at Roxham Road in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Quebec, on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, cautioning people not to cross the border into Canada. (Photo: The Canadian Press)
Canada’s border officials have reported a sharp increase in asylum seekers at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing in Quebec. From January to July 27 this year, 10,724 people applied for asylum at that specific crossing. That’s double the number seen during the same time in 2024, which saw 5,077 applications.
The biggest spikes happened in April and July. In April 2025, 2,733 claims were made compared to 670 in April 2024. July saw 3,089 claims, far higher than the 818 claims during the same month last year.
Total Claims Still Lower Than 2024
Although the Lacolle crossing saw more people, the total number of asylum seekers across Quebec is still lower than last year. By July 27, 2025, Quebec received 14,874 total claims. Last year by that same time, the province had received 22,337.
Nationwide, the number of asylum claims also dropped. Canada received 22,237 asylum applications so far in 2025, down from 41,187 in the same period in 2024 — a 46% drop.
Concerns from Advocates
Frantz Andre, who works with a group that supports people without legal status, says this rise in border crossings is no surprise. He points to growing fear and uncertainty in the United States.
“People are taking risks, you know, to enter illegally,” Andre said.
He believes Canada needs a better system to support migrants. He wants the country to remove the Safe Third Country Agreement. That deal forces people to seek asylum in the first safe country they enter. Because of it, many people try to cross the border at unofficial places to avoid being turned back.
“Third Safe Country... is creating a loophole where people actually are more exposed than before,” Andre said.
Where Are Most Migrants Coming From?
The top countries of origin for land border asylum seekers include:
- Haiti
- Venezuela
- United States
- Colombia
- Pakistan
- Chile
- Romania
- Mexico
- Afghanistan
- Nicaragua
Surprisingly, American citizens are third on the list.
Canada’s Response to the Surge
To prepare for more people, the Canada Border Services Agency set up 12 trailers near the Lacolle border on June 19. Eight serve as waiting rooms, and four are for sanitation. So far, they haven’t needed to use them.
The agency says the current numbers are still under their processing limits. If more people arrive, they plan to bring in more officers and rent more space.
RCMP Monitoring Illegal Crossings
The RCMP said more people are crossing the border outside official entry points. They called these crossings both illegal and dangerous. Officers are keeping a close watch on these areas and adjusting their presence as needed.
Last year, Canada marked a 10-year high by removing over 18,000 people who were not allowed to stay. This year, 1,753 people have already been denied under the Safe Third Country Agreement.
