The announcement of the imminent closure of the Roxham Road at the Canada-US border pushed dozens of asylum seekers to enter Canada last night without further delay.

Meanwhile, the agreement between Canada and the United States, which makes 8,900 kilometers of their shared border an official crossing, came into effect at noon on Friday.

Since then, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been detaining those attempting to cross the border via Roxham Road, located in southern Quebec near the border with New York State, USA.

Also, early Saturday morning, hesitant refugees arrived before police officers deployed on this road, to which a police officer firmly replied: "This is not an official entry point. If you cross here, you will be arrested."

According to sources, about 270 people tried to enter Canada via Roxham Road after the Canada-US agreement came into effect. According to the established protocol, they were arrested and transferred to the nearest official entry point into Canadian territory, in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle.

They were then interrogated by Canadian Border Services Agency officers who decide, after reviewing their files, whether they have the right to apply for asylum in Canada or not. Those who do not meet the criteria are automatically returned to the United States.

Also, under the amendments made to the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States, people who enter Canada via an unofficial point, such as Roxham Road, seeking asylum, are deported to the United States within 14 days, unless there is an exception.

However, the agreement between the two countries stipulates that Canada will accept 15,000 asylum seekers next year through official channels.

The closure of Roxham Road has caused much concern for organizations and groups working with asylum seekers, as many workers believe that the new measures will not deter asylum seekers from crossing into Canada, but will instead push them to take greater risks to enter Canadian territory.

It is noted that crossing by asylum seekers into Canada via Roxham Road has intensified in recent years, and in 2022 a record number of them exceeding 39,000 people used it.