(CANADA) — The Trump administration ramped up immigration enforcement across the United States under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, and the tougher posture has fueled rising interest in Canada as a destination for people seeking protection or stability.
Migrants and advocates have watched U.S. actions that tighten eligibility, pause processing, and expand removal efforts, and many have recalculated their options. Canada has emerged as an alternative in those calculations, even as Canadian officials face growing pressure on asylum processing and border management.
DHS has framed the campaign as “Making America Safe Again,” pairing operational moves with public warnings aimed at deterrence, compliance, and fraud prevention. Those signals can shape behavior quickly, especially for people deciding whether to file for asylum, renew a status, travel, or leave.
Asylum refers to protection for people who say they fear persecution, while Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, provides time-limited protection and work authorization to eligible nationals of certain countries. Parole is a discretionary permission to enter or remain temporarily, and an immigrant visa is a path to lawful permanent residence typically issued through consular processing outside the United States.
Enforcement operations are targeted actions that can differ from routine enforcement by their visibility, coordination, or focus.
DHS messaging and enforcement posture
Noem has used public remarks to present enforcement as both successful and expanding. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the dedication of DHS law enforcement, America’s borders are safer than any time in our nation’s history. the most secure border in history and unmatched enforcement successes,” Noem said on January 16, 2026.
A DHS news release on January 20, 2026, connected the administration’s agenda to stepped-up enforcement by immigration agencies. “Since January 20, 2025, President Trump has delivered on [the mandate to end illegal immigration] in historic fashion. USCIS officers are once again empowered to enforce immigration law by issuing Notices to Appear. So far, they have done so in historic numbers.”
USCIS also highlighted an enforcement-focused posture in its End-of-Year Review on December 22, 2025. The agency cited “rigorous immigration crackdown” accomplishments, including “enhanced screening and vetting of aliens” and “common-sense regulatory and policy changes that restore integrity.”
“In less than a year, President Trump has delivered some of the most historic and consequential achievements in presidential history. In record-time we have secured the border, taken the fight to cartels, and arrested thousands upon thousands of criminal illegal aliens,”
Noem delivered similar themes in remarks on December 19, 2025, linking border security and arrests.
DHS also pushed deterrence messaging more directly in January 2026 through a warning video on its official website. “If you are here illegally, you’re next. You will be fined. imprisoned and deported. You will never return,” Noem said in the clip.
Those official statements matter to migrants because they can signal operational priorities and the likely direction of case handling, even before formal rules change. They can also influence whether people seek legal advice, file applications sooner, avoid travel, or consider leaving the United States.
Key policy and processing actions
USCIS took one of the most consequential processing steps on December 2, 2025, when it placed an indefinite hold on all pending asylum applications pending a “comprehensive review” of the system. In practical terms, a hold can pause adjudications, deepen uncertainty for applicants, and delay work authorization timelines that often hinge on case posture.
The Department of State added another pressure point with an immigrant visa pause effective January 21, 2026. The department paused all immigrant visa issuances for nationals of 75 countries deemed high-risk or a “burden to Americans,” a move that can stall family-based and employment-based immigration plans that depend on consular processing.
TPS policy changes added further deadlines for people who relied on that protection to live and work lawfully in the United States. Noem announced the termination of TPS for Ethiopia, terminated December 12, 2025, and Somalia, terminated January 13, 2026, effective March 17, 2026.
Termination typically means eligible recipients face the loss of protection and work authorization after the relevant end date, raising the stakes for people who have no other immigration pathway. It can also force hard decisions about whether to seek other relief, leave, or risk falling out of status.
DHS also launched named enforcement operations, including “Operation Metro Surge” and “Operation PARRIS”, in Minnesota and other regions to reexamine refugee cases and target “the worst of the worst” criminal aliens. Such operations can draw attention and shift perceived risk in communities, particularly when they involve coordinated actions across agencies.
Canada as an alternative and border indicators
Canada’s rise in asylum interest has come with measurable indicators at the border. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said more than 34,000 asylum applications were made in Canada in 2025, while border crossings like Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle saw asylum requests triple, a 263% increase, during peak enforcement months in late 2025.
Those spikes matter because they can point to route changes and to the speed at which policy and enforcement signals redirect movement. They can also foreshadow strains on Canada’s reception capacity, legal aid systems, and processing timelines.
The northward shift comes after the U.S. crackdown narrowed lawful pathways and raised the perceived cost of remaining in the United States without secure status. The termination of parole programs, including the CHNV program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans in March 2025, reduced options for some who previously used temporary permissions tied to specific policies.
At the same time, the ramping up of ICE raids in “sanctuary cities” contributed to what the source described as an atmosphere of urgency for migrants. Increased interior enforcement can push people to reassess daily risks tied to work, travel, and contact with local authorities.
For some, “moving to Canada” is not one decision but several different legal processes with different standards. An asylum claim in Canada is distinct from applying for a work or study permit or pursuing family sponsorship, and a person’s eligibility can hinge on timing, documentation, and prior immigration history.
Canada has also tightened aspects of its posture as claim volumes rise and political pressure builds to protect the integrity of the system. The result is a dynamic in which U.S. policy moves can send people north, while Canadian policy moves can narrow the window for making a successful claim.
Timing, departures, and proposed Canadian legislation
DHS has pointed to voluntary departures as evidence of the enforcement campaign’s effect. DHS reports that an estimated 1.9 million individuals have “self-deported” or left the U.S. voluntarily due to enforcement pressures, though the estimate reflects a category that can differ from confirmed departures tracked in official removal statistics.
Canada’s federal government has floated a legislative response aimed at limiting late claims tied to U.S. entry. Canada has proposed Bill C-2 (Strong Borders Act) to make asylum claims ineligible if filed more than 14 days after crossing from the U.S. or more than one year after arrival.
Such rules, if enacted as proposed, would make timing a central factor in eligibility and could reshape the incentives for people considering whether to wait, relocate within Canada, or seek legal advice before filing. It could also increase pressure on border and intake systems if more people rush to meet deadlines.
Capacity constraints and practical impacts
Processing capacity already stands as a constraint. Canada’s immigration department, IRCC, reported over two million applications in their backlog as of October 2025, partially due to the sudden increase in refugees from the U.S.
A large inventory can affect wait times, housing pressures, and the timing of work authorization and services, particularly for claimants who rely on shelter systems or provincial supports while their cases move forward. It can also strain legal aid budgets and the availability of counsel, complicating access to hearings and documentation.
Canadian officials and service providers also face persistent misunderstandings among new arrivals, including the idea that an asylum claim in Canada is automatic. U.S. departure decisions can also carry consequences, and border rules can change quickly as governments adjust operations and eligibility triggers.
Where to verify official updates
For readers trying to verify developments and avoid rumor-driven decisions, government pages remain the primary reference points. In the United States, updates appear through the USCIS newsroom at uscis.gov/newsroom, DHS press releases at dhs.gov/newsroom, and the U.S. Department of State at state.gov/travel-advisories.
In Canada, IRCC publishes program information and planning documents through canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship. Readers tracking fast-changing rules often check the release date, the issuing agency, the jurisdiction covered, the effective date, and who the policy applies to before relying on social media summaries.
