Basically all written in the title. Does anyone know if Canada is actually accepting us as refugees from the US yet, or no? Any information is appreciated, thank you!
Look into the Rainbow railroad
No. Canada has an agreement with the US that nobody entering Canada from the US will be seen as a refugee and will be deported back to the US. Vice versa is true with people entering the US from Canada.
It’s the Safe Third Country Agreement. They even have big red letters saying “yes this agreement is still in effect”.
Americans can still apply for refugee status. That agreement makes it so if you come to the US and Canada as a refugee from a third country, you can only apply for status in the first country you entered.
US Citizens are still eligible for refugee status, assuming they meet the other criteria.
If you’re in the LGBTQI+ Community and need refugee status here, check the link below; https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/about-refugee-system/2slgbtqi-plus.html
You’ll also find support with the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) and the Rainbow Railroad.
Why would Canada call the US a safe country for people seeking refugee status and also accept refugees from the US?
In practice I doubt Americans would end up qualifying for refugee status, at least not yet. I’m pretty sure you have to show there are no safe places in your country, and many US states are more reasonable for LGBT folks than some Canadian provinces are.
The UN has expressed concerns about Canada designating the US a safe country and asked our government to stop this. I’d be surprised though, if either major party listens to them about it. :/
The safe third country law predates the bulk of the current insanity, and Canada wants to maintain decorum with Trump due to ongoing tariff and sovereignty threats. Dropping out of that agreement shouldn’t be required to accept someone’s refugee claim and requires less political capital.
Bottom of the On This Page section:
The Agreement does not apply to US citizens
Why would Canada call the US a safe country for people seeking refugee status and also accept refugees from the US?
Because they’re all different circumstances. If you’re fleeing from the government in your previous country, then the US is considered safe and we won’t let you in. If you’re fleeing from the US government, then the US might not be considered safe and you’d be allowed in.
There are currently several people claiming refugee status from the US that are under consideration. If the rule was a blanket “no” they would’ve been denied immediately.
Look at Canada! All that rational thought and measured responses.
I’m more than a little jealous.
This.
For some bizarre reason, Americans are defined via international treaty as “not refugees”. Nothing the US government does to its citizens is allowed to be considered inhumane, oppressive, or persecution.
That is incorrect:
The Agreement does not apply to US citizens or habitual residents of the US who are not citizens of any country (“stateless persons”).
I’m not a lawyer, but that website says that this treaty is about asylum seekers declaring themselves as refugees in the first country (out of the two) where they land. Refugees can’t pass through the US en route to Canada, and apply as a refugee in Canada (and vice versa).
Americans (citizens or habitual residents) can still apply as refugees in Canada, according to this treaty.
Last I heard, refugees needed to demonstrate a clear, immediate, concrete, mortal threat, that you couldn’t feasibly escape anywhere else in your country.
And if you’re rejected you may not reapply and you may even be barred entry.But I’m not a lawyer, so idk the details or what would qualify as such a danger (it even if I was given the correct information, so take it with a grain of salt).
I suspect that for the most part, probably not.
simply being lgbtq+ isnt eligble enough, you would have to face persecution, as lgbtq+ isnt threatened as a whole in the USA in the near future(jailing, killings, wartorn). eg,some place fleeing from IRAN AS LGBTQ+ would be eligible, or of a specific demographic like religion(ba’hai). You can still flee to safe spaces in blue states, blue areas, so its not really eligible, unless all the states starts targeting lgbtq+(with above persecutions), right now its mostly rhetoric and anti-trans laws here and there, and not really enforced as a whole for the most part.
if you have specialty, in stem try looking for certain positions. though rare, scientist “refugees” are possible.
