American immigration lawyer predicts many waiting for status in U.S. will turn to Canada instead

The RCMP and the federal government are already bracing for an influx of asylum seekers into Canada, fearing Donald Trump’s vow to throw out millions of illegal migrants.

Migrants who haven’t received asylum in the U.S. can’t seek asylum at official border crossings, thanks to what’s called the Safe Third Country Agreement, U.S. immigration lawyer Len Saunders tells 1130 NewsRadio.

Saunders, who works in Blaine, Wash., says he wonders if we have enough enforcement along our border and predicts people will be trying to cross into Canada in under-patrolled areas between White Rock and Abbotsford.

“There’s hardly any enforcement on the Canadian border. I think most of the time the Americans are telling the Canadians that there’s people going north,” he said.

“So I think what you’re going to see is people coming probably to the Peace Arch Park. They’ll fly into Seattle, they’ll fly into Bellingham, they’ll catch an Uber, they’ll catch a cab, they’ll get off at the park, and they’ll just walk onto 0 Avenue.”

Saunders says given the sheer numbers, they will likely not obtain legal status anytime soon. He has recently learned that the backlog to deal with the migrants in the U.S. is so big, it will take 50 years for them to get an appointment in front of an immigration judge.

“They’re going to give up. And what they’re going to do is they’re going to look north,” he said.

“They’re going to see that there’s greener pastures up in Canada, and from my experience practicing immigration law for over 20 years in Blaine, I think you’re going to see a huge influx.”

The US Department of Homeland Security estimates 11 million illegal migrants are living in the U.S.