Vast majority of Canadians not happy with refugee rules

Uncertainty among immigrants about their place in Trump's America is rising and asylum seekers crossing Canadian borders illegally is mirroring this rise.

As illegal border crossings in Manitoba and Quebec continue to make headlines, public opinion among Canadians on the issue appears to differ greatly from the rules governing illegal border crossers.

A new poll conducted by Ipsos shows that not only are Canadians divided on how asylum seekers should be treated upon entering the country, very few agree with Canada’s current approach to dealing with them.

Currently, migrants who cross the border illegally are permitted to seek refugee status once detained by authorities, but those who cross at a legal port of entry are ineligible to apply for refugee status.

This contrast in regulations regarding illegal and legal border crossers is an issue Canadians disagree with their government on, according to the poll results.

The poll found that a slim majority of 52% think that the rules should change so that all migrants crossing into Canada from the United States are treated equally.

Of this 52% that would like regulations changed:

• 12% believe illegal migrants should all be sent back to the U.S.
• 40% think they should all be permitted to seek asylum in Canada.

Among the 48% of poll respondents who said asylum seekers should be treated differently depending on how they cross the border, a large portion at 40% supported reversing the current rules.

That would mean those arriving illegally would be sent back to the U.S., while those arriving legally would be permitted to apply for refugee status.

Only 8% of respondents said the current regulations are fine.

What do you think? Should illegal border crossers be treated the same or different from those entering at a legal port of entry.