HOW IT WORKS:
- Under the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States, a refugee must make their claim in the first country in which they arrive. So while Canada used to have many refugees that arrived through the US/Canada border, a refugee who first arrives in the US must now make their claim there.
- A federal court recently struck down this agreement, but suspended judgment, leaving claimants in further limbo.
WHY:
- According to LaViolette, the US system does not meet international requirements that truly make it a safe country.
- The US system does not allow for gay couples to make a claim as a couple, whereas Canada does.
Why you can trust Xtra
