U.S. border officers not doing enough to slow asylum-seekers, Canadian union rep says

The union representing Canadianborder officerssays its American counterparts aren't doing their part to curb the influx of asylum seekers crossing illegally into Canada, an accusationU.S. Border Patrol believes ismisplaced.

"[Border officers] are convinced that Americans are ridding themselves of the problem by bringing asylum seekers to Roxham Road instead of driving them to the Lacolle border crossing," said union president Jean-Pierre Fortin.

Figures released Wednesday show the number of people illegally crossing from the U.S. into Canada is steadily rising, and the majority of those crossings happened in Quebec.

Asylum seekers have been seen crossing into Canada atRoxhamRoad, not far from the official border at Lacolle, Que., where they are arrested by RCMP officers,as U.S. border officerslook on.

• 'We're all humans': U.S. border agent watches as asylum seekers cross into Canada

No law banning illegal crossings from U.S.

Fortinsaid U.S. border officersfacilitate illegal entriesby driving migrants to roads leading to Canada and telling them where to go.

But NormanLague, theU.S. patrol officerin charge of theChamplain Border Patrol Station,saidthere are a number of reasons why someone would be in one of their patrol cars, including keeping them out of the cold while checking their identification.

While his team membersadvise asylum seekers that it's illegal to cross the border at unauthorized points, it's not a crime in the U.S. to enter Canada illegally, he pointed out.

Lague saidif officersdetermine the person has legal status in the U.S., they notify the RCMPthat there are people headed toward Canada, but they have no choice but to let them continue on their way.

"There's no law that says we need to bring them anywhere, we can't forcibly detain somebody in our vehicle to bring them to a port of entry," he said.

"There's nothing that we can do," he added, saying he and his colleagues do what they can with the resources they have.

Canada working with U.S. to ensure border safety, Goodale says

In a statement,ScottBardsley,spokespersonfor federal Public Safety Minister RalphGoodale,saidCanada and theU.S. work closelyto ensure the safety and security of the border, addingGoodalehas discussed the issue of irregularborder crossingsseveral times withU.S. Homeland SecuritySecretary JohnKelly.

A growing number of asylum seekers are making their way to illegal entry points along the Canada-U.S. border to get around the Safe Third Country Agreement, which requires refugees to make a claim in the first country they land in.

People who have already made a claim in the U.S. can't then turn around and do the same in Canada, and vice versa, but that rule is only valid at official land crossings.

Fortin has said he wants the federal government to create a team of CBSAofficers who would patrol in between ports of entry, a job that is currently part of the RCMP's responsibilities.

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