{"id":11836,"date":"2025-07-09T15:24:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T15:24:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/?p=11836"},"modified":"2025-07-09T15:24:35","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T15:24:35","slug":"on-this-world-refugee-day-call-on-the-canadian-government-to-withdraw-from-the-stca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/on-this-world-refugee-day-call-on-the-canadian-government-to-withdraw-from-the-stca\/","title":{"rendered":"On this World Refugee Day, Call on the Canadian Government to Withdraw from the STCA"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Canadian Sanctuary Network, Bridges Not Borders, and the Canadian Council for Refugees have issued an open letter calling on civil society partners to join us in demanding an end to the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) between Canada and the United States.<\/p>\n

Since 2004, Canada has designated the United States as a safe country for refugees, under the STCA between the two countries. This agreement has effectively closed the door on most refugee claimants presenting themselves at the US-Canada border. They are sent back to the US, where many are put into immigration detention.<\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s continued participation in the STCA means that Canada is effectively endorsing U.S. policies to end refugee protection and deport people to places where they are at risk of persecution, torture, and death.<\/p>\n

The full text of the letter, including the list of signatories, is below. We encourage you to sign on to the letter as an organization or as an individual:<\/p>\n

Click here to sign the open letter<\/a><\/p>\n

Open Letter on the STCA<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) is a treaty that allows Canada to turn away refugee claimants (also called asylum seekers) at the land border, sending them back to the United States. This agreement is based on the premise that the U.S. is a safe place for refugees, which has proven to be false. Canada must stand up for refugee rights and withdraw from the STCA.<\/p>\n

Conditions for refugees in the U.S. have deteriorated drastically since January 2025. Refugee protection has effectively\u00a0ceased to exist<\/a>. After the current administration cancelled the CBP One App, there is\u00a0no longer a mechanism to make a refugee claim<\/a>\u00a0for most people. New procedures expand detention and\u00a0accelerate deportation<\/a>, with documented cases of people being\u00a0deported without any justification<\/a>\u00a0at all. Even\u00a0those who have a legal right to stay in the U.S. are under threat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

These measures are an affront to the\u00a01951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol<\/a>, which binds signatories to offer protection to people who face persecution. The Convention was written and signed in the aftermath of the Holocaust, in recognition of the collective failure to protect groups who were persecuted by Nazi Germany. Both the United States and Canada signed on to the Convention and Protocol and passed domestic laws to safeguard refugee rights.<\/p>\n

But domestic law and the\u00a0authority of the courts have been repeatedly undermined<\/a>\u00a0by the Trump administration. For instance, individuals were scooped up, deported to El Salvador, and held in maximum security prisons, where they experience ongoing human rights violations. These deportations happened in defiance of a U.S. court order. Although this detention is paid for by the U.S. government, U.S. officials are arguing that these individuals are under jurisdiction of a foreign country and that American court rulings do not apply. With the rule of law under threat, the U.S. can no longer be considered a reliable partner, including in matters to do with refugees.<\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s continued participation in the STCA, as well as the\u00a0measures proposed in Bill C-2<\/a>\u00a0that would make it even more difficult for refugee claimants to get due process at a refugee hearing in Canada, mean that Canada is effectively endorsing U.S. policies to end refugee protection and deport people to places where they are at risk of persecution, torture, and death.<\/p>\n

Moral and legal\u00a0opposition to Canada\u2019s participation in the STCA is not new<\/a>. A wide range of voices\u2014faith groups, human rights defenders, and senior leaders across political parties\u2014have called for Canada to cease participating in the STCA. The Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada both ruled that refugees sent back to the US might be\u00a0at risk of rights breaches that violate Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms<\/a>, although the Supreme Court has so far declined to strike down the STCA.<\/p>\n

But as refugees become pawns in a dangerous political game, there has never been a more critical time to be a leader in safeguarding the rights of refugees.<\/p>\n

We propose a system that is more orderly and humane. Absurdly, the STCA weakens border security by encouraging the creation of smuggling networks and incentivizing informal border crossing. Efforts to surveil the 9,000 km border intrude upon the privacy and daily lives of Canadians,\u00a0two thirds of whom live within 100 km of the US border<\/a>. Despite being resource intensive, they are ultimately ineffective.<\/p>\n

Returning to the system in place before the STCA was enacted, people who fear persecution can make a refugee claim at an official land port of entry. The Canadian government will know who enters Canada and can evaluate the merits of their refugee claims.<\/p>\n

Resources can be diverted from\u00a0wasteful efforts such as helicopter patrols<\/a>\u00a0to enact the\u00a0Asylum With Dignity plan<\/a>, which will ensure appropriate support, as well as timely decisions on refugee claims. Refugees would have the opportunity to rebuild their lives and contribute to the economic and social fabric of Canada.<\/p>\n

It is time to move beyond political theatre and make a border policy that responds to the realities of the day and aligns with Canadian values of fairness and respect for human rights. It is time to withdraw from the STCA.<\/p>\n

We, the undersigned individuals and organizations based in Canada, call on the Canadian government to withdraw Bill C-2 and withdraw from the STCA.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

En este D\u00eda Mundial del Refugiado, pidamos al gobierno canadiense que se retire del Acuerdo de Tercer Pa\u00eds Seguro (STCA)<\/strong><\/p>\n

La Red Canadiense de Santuarios, Bridges Not Borders y el Consejo Canadiense para los Refugiados han emitido una carta abierta en la que instan a la sociedad civil a unirse a nosotros para exigir la finalizaci\u00f3n del Acuerdo de Tercer Pa\u00eds Seguro (STCA) entre Canad\u00e1 y Estados Unidos.<\/p>\n

Desde 2004, Canad\u00e1 ha designado a Estados Unidos como pa\u00eds seguro para los refugiados, en virtud del STCA entre ambos pa\u00edses. Este acuerdo ha impedido que la mayor\u00eda de los solicitantes de refugio se presenten en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y Canad\u00e1. Son devueltos a Estados Unidos, donde muchos son puestos en detenci\u00f3n migratoria.<\/p>\n

La continua participaci\u00f3n de Canad\u00e1 en el STCA significa que Canad\u00e1 respalda las pol\u00edticas estadounidenses para poner fin a la protecci\u00f3n de los refugiados y deportar a personas a lugares donde corren riesgo de persecuci\u00f3n, tortura y muerte.<\/p>\n

El texto completo de la carta, incluida la lista de firmantes, se encuentra a continuaci\u00f3n. Los animamos a firmar la carta como organizaci\u00f3n o a t\u00edtulo individual:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Haga clic aqu\u00ed para firmar la carta abierta<\/a><\/p>\n

Carta abierta sobre el STCA<\/strong><\/p>\n

El Acuerdo de Tercer Pa\u00eds Seguro (STCA) es un tratado que permite a Canad\u00e1 rechazar a los solicitantes de refugio (tambi\u00e9n llamados solicitantes de asilo) en la frontera terrestre y enviarlos de regreso a Estados Unidos. Este acuerdo se basa en la premisa de que EE. UU. es un lugar seguro para los refugiados, lo cual ha demostrado ser falso. Canad\u00e1 debe defender los derechos de los refugiados y retirarse del STCA.<\/p>\n

Las condiciones de los refugiados en EE. UU. se han deteriorado dr\u00e1sticamente desde enero de 2025. La protecci\u00f3n a los refugiados pr\u00e1cticamente ha dejado de existir. Tras la cancelaci\u00f3n de la aplicaci\u00f3n CBP One App por parte del actual gobierno, ya no existe un mecanismo para presentar una solicitud de refugio para la mayor\u00eda de las personas. Los nuevos procedimientos ampl\u00edan la detenci\u00f3n y aceleran la deportaci\u00f3n, con casos documentados de personas deportadas sin justificaci\u00f3n alguna. Incluso quienes tienen derecho legal a permanecer en EE. UU. se encuentran en peligro. Estas medidas constituyen una afrenta a la Convenci\u00f3n sobre el Estatuto de los Refugiados de 1951 y su Protocolo de 1967, que obliga a los signatarios a ofrecer protecci\u00f3n a las personas que enfrentan persecuci\u00f3n. La Convenci\u00f3n se redact\u00f3 y firm\u00f3 tras el Holocausto, en reconocimiento del fracaso colectivo en la protecci\u00f3n de los grupos perseguidos por la Alemania nazi. Tanto Estados Unidos como Canad\u00e1 firmaron la Convenci\u00f3n y el Protocolo y aprobaron leyes nacionales para salvaguardar los derechos de los refugiados.<\/p>\n

Sin embargo, la administraci\u00f3n Trump ha socavado repetidamente el derecho interno y la autoridad de los tribunales. Por ejemplo, se detuvo a personas, se las deport\u00f3 a El Salvador y se las recluy\u00f3 en prisiones de m\u00e1xima seguridad, donde sufren constantes violaciones de derechos humanos. Estas deportaciones se produjeron en desacato a una orden judicial estadounidense. Si bien esta detenci\u00f3n es financiada por el gobierno estadounidense, las autoridades estadounidenses argumentan que estas personas se encuentran bajo la jurisdicci\u00f3n de un pa\u00eds extranjero y que las sentencias judiciales estadounidenses no son aplicables. Con el Estado de derecho amenazado, Estados Unidos ya no puede considerarse un socio confiable, ni siquiera en asuntos relacionados con los refugiados.<\/p>\n

La continua participaci\u00f3n de Canad\u00e1 en el STCA, as\u00ed como las medidas propuestas en el Proyecto de Ley C-2 que dificultar\u00edan a\u00fan m\u00e1s que los solicitantes de asilo obtengan el debido proceso en una audiencia en Canad\u00e1, significan que Canad\u00e1 est\u00e1 respaldando de hecho las pol\u00edticas estadounidenses para poner fin a la protecci\u00f3n de los refugiados y deportar a personas a lugares donde corren riesgo de persecuci\u00f3n, tortura y muerte.<\/p>\n

La oposici\u00f3n moral y legal a la participaci\u00f3n de Canad\u00e1 en el STCA no es nueva. Diversas voces \u2014grupos religiosos, defensores de los derechos humanos y altos l\u00edderes de todos los partidos pol\u00edticos\u2014 han pedido que Canad\u00e1 deje de participar en el STCA. Tanto el Tribunal Federal de Canad\u00e1 como la Corte Suprema de Canad\u00e1 dictaminaron que los refugiados devueltos a Estados Unidos podr\u00edan correr el riesgo de sufrir violaciones de derechos que violan el Art\u00edculo 7 de la Carta Canadiense de Derechos y Libertades, aunque hasta ahora la Corte Suprema se ha negado a anular el STCA. Pero a medida que los refugiados se convierten en peones de un peligroso juego pol\u00edtico, nunca ha habido un momento m\u00e1s cr\u00edtico para liderar la protecci\u00f3n de sus derechos.<\/p>\n

Proponemos un sistema m\u00e1s ordenado y humano. Absurdamente, la STCA debilita la seguridad fronteriza al fomentar la creaci\u00f3n de redes de tr\u00e1fico de personas e incentivar el cruce informal de fronteras. Los esfuerzos para vigilar los 9000 km de frontera interfieren en la privacidad y la vida cotidiana de los canadienses, dos tercios de los cuales viven a menos de 100 km de la frontera con Estados Unidos. A pesar de requerir muchos recursos, resultan ineficaces.<\/p>\n

Al regresar al sistema vigente antes de la promulgaci\u00f3n de la STCA, las personas que temen ser perseguidas pueden presentar una solicitud de refugio en un puerto de entrada terrestre oficial. El gobierno canadiense sabr\u00e1 qui\u00e9n entra a Canad\u00e1 y podr\u00e1 evaluar los m\u00e9ritos de sus solicitudes.<\/p>\n

Se pueden desviar recursos de esfuerzos innecesarios, como las patrullas de helic\u00f3pteros, para implementar el plan de Asilo con Dignidad, que garantizar\u00e1 el apoyo adecuado.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Canadian Sanctuary Network, Bridges Not Borders, and the Canadian Council for Refugees have issued an open letter calling on civil society partners to join us in demanding an end to the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) between Canada and the United States. Since 2004, Canada has designated the United States as a safe country<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11837,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_rtcl_gb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[265],"class_list":["post-11836","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"aioseo_notices":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CCR_OFFICIAL_LOGOcopy.jpg",700,183,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CCR_OFFICIAL_LOGOcopy.jpg",700,183,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CCR_OFFICIAL_LOGOcopy.jpg",700,183,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CCR_OFFICIAL_LOGOcopy-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CCR_OFFICIAL_LOGOcopy-300x78.jpg",300,78,true],"large":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CCR_OFFICIAL_LOGOcopy.jpg",640,167,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CCR_OFFICIAL_LOGOcopy.jpg",700,183,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CCR_OFFICIAL_LOGOcopy.jpg",700,183,false],"rtcl-gallery":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CCR_OFFICIAL_LOGOcopy.jpg",700,183,false],"rtcl-thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CCR_OFFICIAL_LOGOcopy-320x183.jpg",320,183,true],"rtcl-gallery-thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CCR_OFFICIAL_LOGOcopy-150x105.jpg",150,105,true],"psacp-medium":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CCR_OFFICIAL_LOGOcopy-500x183.jpg",500,183,true],"rpwe-thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CCR_OFFICIAL_LOGOcopy-45x45.jpg",45,45,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"LaPrensa Newspaper","author_link":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/author\/laprensa\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Articles<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"The Canadian Sanctuary Network, Bridges Not Borders, and the Canadian Council for Refugees have issued an open letter calling on civil society partners to join us in demanding an end to the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) between Canada and the United States. Since 2004, Canada has designated the United States as a safe country","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11836"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11836\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11838,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11836\/revisions\/11838"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11836"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=11836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}