The worn path from Champlain, New York to Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle has become a focal point in Canada’s ongoing immigration debate. As winter’s grip loosens across the region, Quebec officials report a significant spike in asylum seekers crossing at the irregular Roxham Road entry point, despite official closure announcements two years ago.
“We’re seeing numbers that remind us of pre-pandemic levels,” explains Julie Moreau, volunteer coordinator with Solidarity Across Borders. “Families arrive with everything they own in a suitcase, often confused about the status of the crossing.”
The Canada Border Services Agency confirmed that March saw over 1,400 irregular crossings at the Lacolle sector, a 35% increase from January figures. These numbers align with seasonal patterns but reflect broader migration pressures building across North America.
The surge comes as Quebec Premier François Legault renewed calls for federal intervention. During last week’s press conference in Quebec City, Legault emphasized the province’s strained resources. “Our shelter system is overwhelmed. Montreal cannot absorb thousands more arrivals when we already face a housing crisis,” Legault stated, pointing to vacancy rates that have dropped below 1% in much of the metropolitan area.
This latest influx has reignited tensions between Quebec and Ottawa over immigration jurisdiction. The province’s Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette has requested $1 billion in additional federal support, arguing Quebec shoulders a disproportionate burden of Canada’s asylum response.
“What we’re witnessing is a continuation of global patterns,” says Dr. Mireille Paquet, political science professor at Concordia University who specializes in immigration policy. “The Safe Third Country Agreement modifications announced in 2023 haven’t fully addressed the systemic pressures driving people to crossing points like Lacolle.”
Under that agreement, asylum seekers must make their claims in the first safe country they enter. The loophole that previously allowed entries at irregular crossing points was supposedly closed, but migration patterns suggest otherwise.
Community response in the border region reflects the complex human dimension behind the statistics. Reverend Jean Dumas, whose church offers temporary shelter to families awaiting processing, describes the changing demographics of arrivals.
“We’re seeing more families from Latin America, particularly Colombia and Venezuela, alongside continuing arrivals from Haiti and West Africa,” Dumas notes. “Many tell us they believe Canada offers better chances for successful asylum claims than the United States, especially with changing political winds south of the border.”
Statistics Canada data supports these observations, showing that asylum approval rates for certain nationalities reach 70% in Canada compared to under 30% for similar cases in the U.S. immigration system.
Federal immigration officials maintain that enhanced processing capacity has kept pace with increasing volumes. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada spokesperson Robert Orr indicated that wait times for initial eligibility interviews have been reduced to an average of 3-4 weeks, down from months-long delays reported in 2022.
However, local settlement agencies dispute these efficiency claims. “The backlog has simply shifted downstream,” argues Maria Torres of the Montreal Refugee Welcome Collective. “Claimants move faster through initial processing but then face extended waits for work permits, healthcare access, and permanent status decisions.”
The economic dimensions of this migration pattern cannot be overlooked. Quebec’s labor shortage across multiple sectors creates competing narratives around newcomer arrivals. While the provincial government emphasizes integration challenges, employers in regions like the Eastern Townships have actively recruited asylum seekers to fill critical workforce gaps.
“Our agricultural sector would collapse without this labor,” admits Pierre Létourneau, head of the Regional Agricultural Producers Association. “Last season, we had nearly 200 asylum seekers working across member farms, most proving to be dependable, motivated employees.”
The federal government has attempted to address Quebec’s concerns through the Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration, increasing financial transfers by 12% in the latest budget. However, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government faces criticism from both sides – Quebec officials claiming insufficient support while opposition parties question border security measures.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre visited the region last month, calling for enhanced enforcement at irregular crossings. “Canadians expect orderly, legal immigration processes,” Poilievre told supporters at a Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu rally. “The current situation undermines public confidence in our immigration system.”
Housing remains the most immediate challenge for communities receiving asylum seekers. Montreal’s temporary shelter network operates at 98% capacity, according to municipal reports released last week. The YMCA has converted additional facilities to emergency housing, but sustainable solutions remain elusive.
For those crossing at Lacolle, the journey often begins long before reaching Canadian soil. Immigration advocates document increasingly dangerous routes through Central America and Mexico before arrivals reach the northern U.S. border. Many spend their life savings financing the journey, arriving with limited resources but high hopes.
“I sold everything in Caracas to bring my children somewhere safe,” explains Maria, a Venezuelan mother of three who crossed at Lacolle in February and requested her surname be withheld for safety concerns. “We heard Canada respects human rights and gives people a fair chance.”
As summer approaches, border officials expect crossing numbers to continue rising. The federal government has deployed additional personnel to the region, with temporary processing facilities established at nearby Napier Barracks. Meanwhile, legal aid services report unprecedented demand, with wait times for initial consultations stretching to three weeks.
The situation highlights Canada’s evolving place in global migration patterns. Once considered a secondary destination compared to European countries or the United States, Canada now features prominently in migration networks and information sharing among asylum seekers.
Social media groups in multiple languages offer detailed guidance on Canadian asylum procedures, with specific mention of the Lacolle crossing. This digital infrastructure helps explain how quickly migration patterns adjust to policy changes and enforcement efforts.
Whether this represents a temporary surge or a new normal remains uncertain. What’s clear is that the quiet rural crossing at Lacolle has become an unexpected frontline in Canada’s immigration debate, challenging policymakers to balance humanitarian obligations with resource constraints in a politically charged environment.
