Canada’s asylum policies push migrants to the US, ignoring structural violence and regional instability
Original framing: “Canada’s policies force asylum seekers into US to face deportation, critics say” — The Guardian - World
The Safe Third Country Agreement echoes the 1980s-era policies that criminalized Central American asylum seekers fleeing civil wars and U.S.-backed dictatorships. History shows that such policies fail to protect vulnerable populations and instead exacerbate suffering. Understanding this history is key to avoiding repetition.
Canada’s Safe Third Country Agreement is a product of colonial and neoliberal logics that externalize responsibility for migration while ignoring the structural violence that creates it.
By shifting the focus from deterrence to regional cooperation and climate justice, Canada can begin to address the root causes of displacement. Indigenous and cross-cultural perspectives offer alternative frameworks that emphasize interdependence and care. A systemic solution requires not only policy reform but also a reimagining of sovereignty, justice, and human rights in a globalized world.