Mexico says asylum claims to Canada started dropping last month 鈥� a revelation that comes amid mounting pressure on Ottawa to reimpose visas for Mexican citizens.
Mexico鈥檚 foreign ministry says both countries are undertaking unspecified 鈥渏oint measures,鈥� which it credits for a decline in the number of claims filed in December.
But Immigration Minister Marc Miller says he hasn鈥檛 yet seen evidence of that decline, and is keeping mum on whether either country has changed its policies.
Asylum claims from Mexico have shot up in recent years, even as the rate of Mexican applicants who actually get refugee status remains well below that of other countries.
That鈥檚 partially the result of the government鈥檚 decision in 2016 to lift the visa requirement, making it easier for people from Mexico to make an asylum claim in Canada.
The Conservatives want the Liberals to reverse their repeal of the visa requirement, arguing the change has led to fraud, abuse and strain on the asylum system.
Mexico鈥檚 foreign ministry wrote in a statement late Thursday that it鈥檚 important to maintain the economic benefits of easier travel between both countries.
Miller echoed that point earlier this week, and said Monday that both countries are looking at options to lower the number of claims, adding that he is avoiding giving more detail to avoid exploitation.
Yet he did not confirm Thursday whether any policies have changed as a result of those diplomatic talks.
鈥淎ny action obviously can entail a reaction,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淥bviously, there is some measure of some sensitivity to it.鈥�
Miller added that 鈥淢exico is only one part of the story鈥� of irregular immigration, and he repeated that bad actors would exploit the system if Ottawa was fully transparent about what鈥檚 being discussed.
When asked if policies have led to any changes in the number of claims, Miller replied, 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 seen any yet.鈥�
The Biden administration has warned that human traffickers linked to Mexican cartels may be exploiting Canada鈥檚 visa-free regime in order to get people into the U.S.
Indeed, the shared northern border is becoming a political issue in both countries, said David MacNaughton, who served as Canada鈥檚 ambassador to Washington during Donald Trump鈥檚 first term as president.
The U.S.-Mexico border has long been a focal point for Trump, and likely will be as well for President Joe Biden as a rematch of their 2020 election battle takes shape.
But Republicans in Congress have in recent months made an effort to bring the U.S. border with Canada into the conversation about irregular migration.
鈥淚ncreasingly, we鈥檝e heard complaints about the northern border鈥� in the U.S., MacNaughton told a webinar hosted by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just a Mexico issue 鈥� it is actually a reflection of, I think, what is an increasing sort of isolationism and protectionism in the United States.鈥�
Quebec Premier Fran莽ois Legault cited the rise in Mexican claimants in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week, warning that his province鈥檚 services for refugees are reaching a 鈥渂reaking point.鈥�
Mexico鈥檚 statement noted that Quebec in particular has benefited from the cultural, tourism and scientific exchanges.
The ministry says that Mexico and Canada are aligned on the need for 鈥渁 constructive approach and a comprehensive dialogue that considers all factors motivating鈥� irregular immigration.
鈥� With files from Laura Osman
Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
