Names and designations of the interviewees in order of first appearance: 01:09 Andrew Selee - President, Migration Policy Institute 05:02 Jennifer Kwan - MP, Vancouver East 06:36 Gauri Sreenivasan - Co-Director, Canadian Council for Refugees 07:23 Naqib Sarwary - Amnesty International 08:02 Jane - Researcher 09:35 Mike Guthrie - Director, Portland Family Shelter 10:58 Mardochee Mbongi - Lawyer 11:24 Kate Snyder - Mayor of Portland 12:16 Katherine - Resident 12:36 Resident Reporter: Carolina Chimoy

I’m tired of people assuming that America and Canada are responsible for all of the world’s population.

As a Canadian I feel I must correct some misconceptions of this video. Canada has a population of 40,000,000 and we accepted one million legal immigrants last year. One of the prerequisites is that they speak one of our two official languages English or French. We have a backlog of Afghani who helped the Canadian Army that must be allowed into Canada simultaneously Ukrainians can come wherever they want and stay as long as they want. To top this off Canada has a housing crisis and unlike much of the world if you don’t have a warm home in Canada then you will freeze to death. I ask you where the illegal immigrants will stay during our 7 month long winter.

I dont even know how to describe it. They broke the law, crossed to other country and they are surprised that no one gives them place to sleep, unbelievable.

Imagine going to some foreign country, sleeping in public, and demanding that the people take care of you. Not asking for work, but for free everything

I hope that every country will strictly reject illegal immigrants, because this behavior is an insult to those who enter according to the procedures.

As an Indian, I can attest to the fact that most asylum seekers from India are not in any danger. They use asylum as a mechanism to circumvent the legal immigration process, especially if they lack the required education or skills to immigrate legally

As an immigrant myself who entered Canada officially with almost 2 years of wait period and screenings, meeting all eligibility criteria (language, work experience, education, etc), I'm opposed to letting immigrants via unofficial ways. If they want to seek asylum there's official ways for that. This executive order totally reflects position of most Canadians!

Strange that the whole world population think that US and Canada have to solve the whole world problems :(

Imagine living in a country with already high living costs and a housing crisis and everyone thinks we can handle it

Every country has immigration laws. You can't just open the doors to everyone.

If they are traveling for months, why do their clothes always look so clean?

Can’t believe they expect American people to help them. Brining kids doesn’t give you the permit.

Claiming "Asylum" simply because you want a better life unfortunately isn't a valid reason. Actual persecution when your life is at risk... absolutely. But legally they are required to claim asylum at the nearest/first country they get to. Not 10 countries later once they can get to the US or Canada. It is a slap in the face to those legal immigrants who went through the arduous process of gaining such status legally.

Boohoo. You don't get to country shop. We owe them nothing.

How many countries do you cross from Africa to US and Canada? They are supposed to apply for asylum in the 1st country.

Those northern states we've sent immigrants to, they have been advocating for open borders and saying things like "no one is illegal", but none of them are interested in sharing the burden. Some of them declared states of emergency after getting just a few hundred while the southern border states can get more than 10,000 a month

illegally entering canada illegally and you think you are welcome, youre not.

If you’re coming from South America don’t they hit multiple “safe countries” prior to reaching the United States?

I feel this video glossed over a lot of key issues that Canadians (citizens, PRs, and legal immigrants) are facing, e.g., a housing crisis like no other, unaccessible medical services, high COL, lack of transportation options outside major cities, bureaucracy interfering with building and development, government mismanagement… Adding more people before better infrastructure and policies are implemented is not going to help our current problems. Canada cannot save the world before it saves itself.

No documents NO entry.

Canada should completely close it's borders until it can get it's society into a state of stasis. Here in the US we should do the same.

How do you manage to go all the way from Angola to Canada without passing through one other safe country? Safe from what?

The actual title of this video should be: Why not closing the US-Mexico border is plunging Americans and legal immigrants into despair

There is no threat of detainment if you cross the boarder illegally. This is why so many have crossed Roxham road. They are warned right before crossing, that it is illegal but they do not care, because they have been told by others that as soon as you cross, the Canadian government will offer you housing, health care and even a stipend. If there was a detainment period during which their asylum claim was evaluated and they had to stay in one location (e.g., in military facilities), perhaps some of them would think twice. It would not be so easy for them to receive money and work illegally in Canada, as many do. We must help legitimate claimants who are running for their lives. But there are many who intentionally plan to leave their country when their lives are not threatened and they have the means to buy air tickets or travel for weeks over land in the USA. Canada must speed up the processing of illegal crossings and also make those who do ineligible for citizenship, unless they can prove that there was no alternative to not crossing.

I am all for treating people humanely, but I am not for open illegal immigration. Contrary to the reporter's closing remark(s), the U.S. and Canadian immigrations systems aren't broken. They work well for people seeking immigration legally.

Canada welcomes new immigrants, but only those come in through legal channels. We don't have unlimited resources to take just just anyone. Taxpayers work hard and their money shouldn't be wasted.

This is so unfair on people who actually pay up and wait years

You don’t want to be on the streets of Canada for the winter

The solution is simple. Close all borders in the US, CANADA, and Mexico. Force all immigrants to apply for asylum in their countries of origin and allow them in the US or Canada only if their asylum request are approved. The US and Canada are being overwhelmed and cannot allow millions of illegal aliens to flood into their countries.

I came to Canada legally from Germany. My wife came here legally from Guatemala. We are both naturalized Canadian citizens and neither one of us has any sympathy for illegals. It's plain and simple: Come here legally or don't come at all.

I am a US Citizen Puerto Rican French descent, I came to Canada with my Canadian born Citizen husband on Dec 24 2022. We were stuck at the official border on Christmas Eve for 6 days, and we had all our papers. I have my US passport and my husband his birth certificate and Canadian passport. Unfortunately, I can see why they decided to close the border. It affects Canadian citizens and people that do have their papers and spend money to do their immigration process. That cost us 11k.

I don't understand how anyone from a warm country can think that living on the street in Canada would be a better life considering the Canadian winter. Perhaps all the people protesting the border closures would be willing to let the asylum seekers pitch tents in their backyards and share their kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry facilities, buy them groceries and help them find jobs. On really cold nights in the winter they could sleep on the basement floor.

I immigrated here in Canada 15 years ago, through the legal, tedious and costly process. As an immigrant myself, I am not against immigration and asylum seekers through the legal means. I totally support refuguees who needs protection, however, the situation now in Canada is different compared to 10 years ago. In recent years, there is a housing crisis in the country that even locals are becoming homeless due to lack of opportunities and high cost of living. Most companies are laying off their employees or they're implementing pay cuts. Social services, health care, peace and order are deteriorating. Taking-in more undocumented asylum seekers will only worsen the current situation. The homelessness in big cities like Toronto and Vancouver is already in Crisis Level. I hope the government will fix first the problem before they will continue accepting illegal asylum seekers.

We in Canada have enjoyed a undefended and relatively open border with our U.S. neighbors and friends for a couple of centuries now mainly because we both believe in freedom along with LAW & ORDER . Follow the LAW when coming here and you're welcome . Try to sneak or break in and you're not .

I live in Chicago and i am seeing whole families with small children living in tents in parks.What will they do in our long cold season? Who let this happen? And why?

Imagine coming to a different country for a life and find out you were better off if you stayed home

A big part of the solution, is closing both borders: Mexico-US and US-Canada, and implementing the rule that asylum seekers must apply from their countries of origin. The rest, it is basically creating incentives for those illegal aliens claiming for false asylum in either US or Canada.

This is absolutely insane.. this is ridiculous why do we keep even allowing them to come...

3:13 this graph is quite misleading. The 2022 bar is only like 4 times bigger than the 2021 bar when it should be 10 times the length.

US constitution says president is to secure the borders.

They need to have a set number for asylum seekers. Its a slap in the face of citizens when non citizens get services that they can't get.

Canada and the United States, we need to get our own people looked after with a roof over their heads, food, clothing etc. And after that who knows how, where and when that will happen? And the and only then try absorbing the immigrants coming to our countries through a legal process. Thats my thoughts

Problem is that a lot of people think immigration only ratchets one way. What if "fixing" immigration means making it more strict, not less?

At least Canada has laws they follow regarding illegal immigrants.

They should be in jail for crossing the borders illigally. And deported. Immediately all taxpayers money

I want to point out the irony, Canada was among the countries condemning the US for it's handling of the southern border. The current administration has made us the new transit country, and now canada gets to feel what it's like.

Securing a job as an immigrant world wide is really difficult, how do everyone expect us to survive

5:12 MP Jennifer 'Jenny' Kwan is herself an immigrant, born in Hong Kong. Several years ago she was interviewed in an online CBC article about Asian tax-evaders; basically wealthy tax-residents who do not report foreign income/assets. She went on to say that in Chinese-Canadian society, ppl are very private about financial matters and that The Rest of Us need to understand and accept that. So, if you or I are required by law to report any foreign income assets over CAD 100,000, that's one thing. If HER in-group refuses to and commits tax-evasion...well, we need to be understanding. And she is an ELECTED official. Any Canadian should be highly doubtful of this politician's loyalty to Canada.

Make them leave. This is outrageous. You aren’t entitled to permanent residence in our countries. Stay in your home and fight to make things better or find somewhere else.

Bruh they come illegally , they pass 8 countries, and then try to pass another border and people should feel bad for people who violate borders, essentialy breaking the law🤡reporters

The government has money to process immigrants. They don't have momey to help their own citizens😮 , just disgust..

"People have the right to milk our welfare system" smh

To the people asking for the borders to open, do you also open your home to anyone who wishes to come in? Is anyone allowed to come eat your food and sleep in your bed for as long as they wish?

Us Canadians have the right to protect our borders.

Why is it harder for them now to get into Canada than the us? What a clown show here in the US.

No papers. No entry Illegal entry. No entry No skill to take care of self. No entry

I'm Canadian and think a three year moratorium on all immigration would actually be a good thing for both native born citizens and immigrants alike. Three years would allow us time to digest the millions already here who who are struggling to find work. It would help relieve pressure on our housing market, which is off the rails and allow us to improve infrastructure that is wearing out even more quickly under the increased pressure of added millions. Allowing more immigrants in when the conditions on the ground are this weird is not fair to anyone. We need some time and good policy to set conditions right for immigrant and native born citizens alike to have the best chance of integration and developing decent lives here (when 50% of your neighbors are from elsewhere native born have to integrate as well). A three year break would go a long way towards avoiding many of the problems afflicting european nations and other places the world over who have had millions dumped on their soil without a proper plan in place to obsorb them. I am pro immigrant 100% but to bring people from all corners just to exploit them in low wage dead end jobs as they struggle to keep decent roofs over their heads in the cold cold winters is outrageous and makes us look bad.

It is just amazing how generous the Canadians are to those illegal immigrants when local tax payers suffer from house shortage and healthcare problems and crimes... I always admired your system and being generous and correct but probably you also have right to protect your own lives..

We have people here already starving and no housing, but you expect us to do the same for them

I tried to migrate to Canada few years ago, but the tedious and costly process made me give up. It doesn't worth it, really. Before wanting to migrate some place, love yourself and be proud of you who are. At the end of the day, you're a human being and no government has the right to make your life harder.

Dear Canada, Do NOT let them in!!!!! PROTECT YOUR LAND!!! From England!!!

Don't understand how enforcing existing agreements is a bad thing. Asylum seekers should deal with the first country that they land at there is nothing that unsafe about America that it's a human rights issue that is absurd

The ethnic Chinese politician wants the Canadian border left opened. .i wonder why

This is 2024. People coming to the US and Canada are well connected. Immigration is big business and groups have an interest in maximizing it.

The border was closed because Canada’s ability to receive more asylum seekers had come to a breaking point, particularly in Quebec. Unlike the USA, we have universal health care but it is in a deep crisis; so are housing, education and food prices. On the other hand, many want to come to Canada because they expect our government to give them free housing, health care and a monthly income. At the end of the day, the vast majority of Canadians support the government on this

Came to Canada "unofficially" - why don't you just say "illegally" - this softening of what is a CRIME is nonsense. Call it what it is ffs.. Every single one of those people featured seeking asylum could have done so within their own countries to the US consulate or embassy in their respective countries. But they didn't, because they are gaming the system and they know it. They know that during the application review process they can stay - and they take advantage of it. Then they have the balls to complain about the conditions? DON'T COME HERE THEN.

what ever happened to the idea, that if you country is oppressing, you stay and fight, sometimes it costs lives to change things but all western countries have had to do it..

You think the US/Mexican border is closed with 200-300 thousand illegal immigrants every month and you think the safe third country agreement is followed?

Don't care. Not our problem. If they dont like their country they should make to effort to change it.

Stay home and work to make your own country better. Stop freeloading off of the work we put in to build what we have.

Oh, the humanity. How dare Canada demand that immigrants crose the boarder legally at official crossings!

Why don't they unite and fix their own countries?

Seeking asylum is not a buffet, you seek asylum in the first safe country.

They should all be sent back

Well, if Canada believes the US isn't safe for asylum seekers, then the Canadian government is welcome to admit them. Canada has plenty of room, too.

Do they not know that Canada's homeless are growing daily? Do they want to live outside in tents in the winter and go to food banks?

As a Canadian, where exactly do you put asylum seekers when rent is $2000 a month, a house is $500,000+, inflation on groceries is 8%, and our health care is strained, our national debt is going through the roof and it’s -20 outside six months a year. Where???

People have a misunderstanding. These countries are very good countries and have many immigrants in both countries. Most immigrants come here after getting documentation while others break rules and laws to cross illegally.

Where are the Human Rights folks for all those Canadians living on the street, those who have no healthcare, can’t afford their utility bills. Close the doors until the country is sorted out and able to look after its citizens as it should be doing.

What happened to the quota system? What happens to those waiting for years with papers?

Imagine making it all the way through Mexico into America and then go all the way through America to try to get into Canada, and expect people to still at that point feel sympathy for your situation.

There is a difference between compassion and lawlessness. I would never suggest, let alone demand that this well meaning woman remove the front door to her home, even if doing so might benefit someone less fortunate.

This is a disaster. . . . A plain simple disaster

Not bringing documentation makes our country have to use our tax money to do research to find out who you are and if your claim is legit. It’s nuts.

The Canadian citizens shouldnt have to be on the hook for this........ and they dont want to be. Close the border.

40,000! Wow, I didn't know that. It's outrageous who's gonna pay for all these guys, the taxpayers

Those guys from Venezuela will freeze solid. They have no idea how deadly -25 degrees is for 4 straight months. Why are they wanting to go there???

I love this. I was a US border patrol agent on the Mexican border and I have grown to tired of the insults from my friends and family in Canada about “trumps racist border policy”. I want to see them deal with all of these immigrants problems so that they can learn how compassion in the United States has been abused and has now run out. You have no idea how horrible this problem is. The news in Canada is so biased that you’ve never seen the reality of it. Once Canada has to deal with it all at once, I think it will bring both countries together and stop with all this US hatred that I hear when I’m up north.

In the mind of DW there can never be too many asylum seekers.

I think Canada is doing the right thing by closing their border, well, making it harder to enter. Good on them. The US should take notes and actually do more instead of giving illegal immigrants a free pass. The tax payers are paying for it and I’m sure they are getting tired of having to take care of someone they done know or care about.

im sorry but with the housing problem the government has created there isnt houses for residents of canada how can we let more people in it will only add to the problem

Dose he understand that we are tsking on millions of people crossing the board so a thousand in your state isn't nothing to compare what texas is going thru

Imagine a quick solution and 180 beds for families already in Canada that are homeless. It’s unfortunate but at some point we have to realize we just can’t help much right now with a housing crisis.

Imagine that. A border you can't just walk across.

The only people against it are those who can't make money off it.

Funny how canada criticized America for trying to close our borders

Your title of this video, that the border between Canada and the US is closed, is flat out wrong. The border is not closed. If you have proper documentation you can still cross the border in either direction.

The US-Canada border is simply not closed. For decades the Canada border agents have been quite severe in manner. I lent my American friend $2500 so he could show a positive bank account balance to go marry his girlfriend in Canada 15 years ago. Canada has simply tightened certain crossings.

The German, public, state-owned, international broadcaster funded by the German federal tax budget. Wikipedia doesn't mention you serving any citizen in North America, but I glossed over its description of you, after that.