As many as 1,200 asylum seekers wait to be processed at Lacolle border crossing

With waves of migrants fleeing the United States, the Canada Border Services Agency says that as many as1,200 asylum seekers are waiting to be processed at the border crossing in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Que.

Patrick Lefort, the CBSAregional director general for Quebec, said Lacolle border agents can process up to 230 migrants per day.

"It's a very demanding humanitarian operation,"said Lefort, adding that staffhas been brought in from all over the country to handle the growing number of asylum seekers showing up at the Lacolleborder crossing.

Before the surge of people crossing into Canada, Lefort said agents were handling about a dozen asylum claims daily.

• Why are thousands of Haitians streaming into Canada from the U.S.?

Most are Haitian nationals, many of whom have beenliving in the U.S. for years but who now fear deportation when the temporary protection status the U.S. granted Haitians after the 2010 earthquake expires nextJanuary.

Lefort said temporary accommodations for the asylum seekershave greatly improved in the last few days, butthe next step is to double the capacity of the tent villagethe Canadian military has been setting up at the border.

"We are in the stage of planning to add capacity so we can provide shelter or housing to a larger number of migrants," saidLefort.

The camp, which is able to accommodateup to 500 people,was set up Wednesday to handle the influx of asylum seekers many of them arriving at an unofficial crossing on Roxham Road in nearby Hemmingford, Que.

Lefort said that up to 250people are nowcrossing at Roxham Roadeach day.

The modular tents have floors, lighting and heating. Soldiers are still present, asconstruction of the camp is still underway.

• Military builds tent village to house surge of asylum seekers at Quebec border

Red Cross to help out, 'embarrassed' U.S. residents hand out snacks

The Canadian Red Cross is to take over logistics of running the tent village by providingbeds, food, hygiene kits and medical help to the migrants waiting to be processed.

Along with providing those necessities, the Red Cross is also helpingasylum seekers contact relatives, to let them know they are alive and safe.

On the American side of the border, two U.S. citizens arrived with a carload of drinks and snacks that they were hoping to hand out to migrants on their way to the Canadian border.

"We want these families to remember an act of kindness before they go into Canada, from this country," said Vermont residentPriscillaMaddox, addingshe was "embarrassed" by the situation.

"We want their last memory to be one of kindness and not of fear," said her friend Wendy Doan. "This is not my America."

A growing number of migrants have also been taken in at different temporary shelters inMontreal, including at the Olympic Stadium, as they wait for claims to be processed.

The Quebec government said as of Thursday,2,440 people were being housed in Montreal.