Several individuals from a group of 19 asylum seekers intercepted while crossing from the United States into Quebec on Christmas Day have been deported back to American authorities. The migrants, who are of Haitian origin, now face potential detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Christmas Night Interception Near Havelock
The incident unfolded late on the evening of December 25, when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responded to a report from the United States Border Patrol. Officers conducted a search in the woods near Havelock, Quebec, a village located approximately 60 kilometres south of Montreal and just five kilometres from the international border.
Police discovered the group, which included children, hiding in the area. The RCMP reported last week that some of the migrants required treatment for frostbite following their exposure to the winter conditions. All 19 individuals were arrested and subsequently filed claims for asylum in Canada.
Deportations Under the Safe Third Country Agreement
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which adjudicates asylum claims and orders removals, confirmed in a statement that an undisclosed number of the migrants have been removed from Canada. "All those who were deemed inadmissible to claim asylum in Canada were removed to the United States," said CBSA spokesperson Rebecca Purdy.
This action is enabled by the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) between Canada and the U.S. The pact allows either country to return asylum seekers to the other side of the shared land border, based on the premise that both nations are safe havens for refugees. Exceptions are made for those with close family ties in Canada, a relevant factor given Montreal's significant Haitian community.
Once a removal order is issued by Canada, the CBSA transfers individuals to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. If the migrants lack legal status in the United States, they are typically handed over to ICE custody.
Broader Context and Advocates' Concerns
The deportation of these Haitian nationals occurs against a backdrop of heightened anxiety for many Haitian migrants in the United States. The Trump administration has moved to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 500,000 Haitians, a humanitarian designation granted after the 2010 earthquake. That status is currently set to expire in February 2026, while Haiti continues to grapple with severe gang violence and political instability.
Immigrant advocacy groups have long called for Canada to suspend the STCA, arguing that the United States is not a safe country for many asylum seekers due to policies under the Trump administration and the practices of ICE. They contend the agreement makes Canada complicit in returning vulnerable people to potential detention and deportation from the U.S.
This is not an isolated case. In August, the CBSA confirmed it deported a number of Haitian asylum seekers to the U.S. after the RCMP stopped a U-Haul truck carrying 44 people near Stanstead, Quebec.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges and human costs associated with irregular border crossings and the complex bilateral agreement governing asylum claims between the two North American neighbours.
