OPEN LETTER to Deputy Prime Minister on border restriction

This letter is regarding the most recent announcement made on the morning of March 20th 2020 by Prime Minister Trudeau that irregular migrant crossings will not be permitted from the United States border, and will be turned back into U.S custody. It was only days ago that the government provided verbal assurance that asylum seekers crossing into Canada irregularly would not be turned away. Now today these unprecedented restrictions have been announced and I am highly concerned about the possible implications that could result. It is incredibly disappointing that Canada is turning its back on its humanitarian obligations, particularly when we are facing a global pandemic when those who are most vulnerable are in need now more than ever.
The current unprecedented situation with COVID-19 does not mean that the global forced displacement crisis is over, nor does it mean that the conditions for those fleeing persecution had stopped. Choosing to turn our backs on those in desperate need to get to safety will not effectively stop the spread of COVID-19.

March 24, 2020

Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Chair
Cabinet Committee on the federal response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Deputy Prime Minister Freeland,

This letter is regarding the most recent announcement made on the morning of March 20th 2020 by Prime Minister Trudeau that irregular migrant crossings will not be permitted from the United States border, and will be turned back into U.S custody. It was only days ago that the government provided verbal assurance that asylum seekers crossing into Canada irregularly would not be turned away. Now today these unprecedented restrictions have been announced and I am highly concerned about the possible implications that could result. It is incredibly disappointing that Canada is turning its back on its humanitarian obligations, particularly when we are facing a global pandemic when those who are most vulnerable are in need now more than ever.

The current unprecedented situation with COVID-19 does not mean that the global forced displacement crisis is over, nor does it mean that the conditions for those fleeing persecution had stopped. Choosing to turn our backs on those in desperate need to get to safety will not effectively stop the spread of COVID-19.

Professors Y.Y Brandon Chen and Jamie Liew stated: "A pursuit of public health that neglects scientific evidence and human rights will do more harm than good. And unfortunately, the brunt of these harms will be borne by people who are already marginalized in our society". To echo this, Executive Director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, Janet Dench, states: "During a pandemic, we must uphold our commitments to protecting the rights of refugees and vulnerable migrants. This includes our fundamental legal obligation to not turn refugees away at the borders. It is dismaying to find that the Government of Canada is not prepared to live up to that commitment."

We agree that we need to keep Canadians safe and our frontline workers focused on fighting COVID-19 but we must continue to respond to this crisis with more compassion, not less. It is essential that Canada abides by its commitments to international humanitarian and human rights

law. The decision to send irregular border crossers back into the US, and potentially into US ICE custody, is deeply concerning. Forcibly separating children from their parents was never the right thing to do. Rejecting asylum to those fleeing gendered base violence and gang violence is inhumane and it is potentially life threatening.

I understand this is an extraordinary and unprecedented situation, however real leadership in times of crisis involves defending the rights of the most vulnerable, and the Government of Canada must do just that.

Thank you for your attention and I look forward to your prompt response. Sincerely,

Jenny Kwan
MP, Vancouver East

Cc: The Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos (Vice-Chair) The Hon. Navdeep Singh Bains
The Hon. William Sterling Blair
The Hon. Patricia Hajdu

The Hon. Mélanie Joly
The Hon. William Francis Morneau The Hon. Carla Qualtrough
The Hon. Kirsty Duncan
The Hon. Marco E. L. Mendicino
The Hon. François-Philippe Champagne

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