Solidarity with Refugees: End the Safe Third Country Agreement
Toronto / June 20, 2024
On World Refugee Day, OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants expresses solidarity with refugees and displaced people around the world. We honor their resilience and courage while calling on Canada to uphold its humanitarian obligations by welcoming those fleeing war, persecution, and violence.
The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) between Canada and the United States puts refugees at risk. Because of this agreement, Canada turns away most refugees who show up at the border seeking safety and sends them back to the United States.
The U.S. asylum system is increasingly restrictive, with prolonged detention, accelerated deportations, and policies that deny protection to those fleeing gender-based violence, gang persecution, and other dangers. For many refugees—particularly Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, women and girls, and other marginalized groups—the U.S. is not safe.
The STCA forces people into life-threatening risks, pushing them to cross irregularly or remain in precarious conditions. Canada must stop outsourcing its refugee responsibilities to a country that fails to uphold international protection standards.
We demand that Canada:
- Immediately suspend and terminate the STCA, recognizing that the U.S. is not a safe haven for all refugees.
- Withdraw Bill C-2, which is a threat to refugee rights.
- Expand safe pathways for asylum seekers, including streamlined family reunification and humanitarian visas.
- Invest in fair and timely refugee processing, ensuring dignity and rights for all.
Solidarity means action. On World Refugee Day and every day, we stand with refugees and demand policies rooted in justice, not deterrence.
#WelcomeRefugees #EndTheSTCA #WorldRefugeeDay
OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
June 20, 2024
Take Action!
Canadian Council for Refugees – Write to your MP about Bill C-2
Amnesty International – Send a message to the Minister of Immigration