Deeply disappointed by @JustinTrudeau's decision to shut down the Canada-US border to refugees, in contravention of international refugee law and arguably Canadian constitutional law. /1
Decision puts health of Canadians at risk. When crossing at known points, like #RoxamRoad, refugee claimants go through medical checks and self-isolation. Closing down such routes pushes asylum seekers to cross surreptitiously, with no screening. /2
Canadian border decision also puts health and safety of #Refugees at risk. The experience with closing safe routes for asylum seekers elsewhere (US, EU) shows that people don't stop crossing borders, they just use more dangerous routes. Result: loss of life. /3
US is also obviously not safe for #Refugees, with a racist, anti-Islamic, xenophobic & misogynist US President. Many meeting refugee definition in Canada will not qualify for protection in US. And: detention, family separation, no legal aid, etc, etc. /4
#Smugglers will be pleased with the decision to close the Canada-US border to refugees. More opportunities and revenues for them. Once smuggling networks are established, they do not go away -- and smugglers will also bring in guns, drugs, and the like. /5
