A human wave of 220,000 people has circumvented official checkpoints to cross into Canada since 2017, a dramatic journey marked by a staggering 402% surge in 2021 and a near-complete halt after the pivotal closure of Roxham Road in 2023.
Key Takeaways
- In 2017, Canada recorded 18,836 irregular border crossers detected by the CBSA, primarily at the Quebec-New York border.
- In 2018, irregular crossings into Canada totaled 23,461 detections, a 25% increase from the previous year.
- 2019 saw 16,976 irregular migrant detections at the Canada-US land border, down 28% from 2018.
- In January 2017, CBSA detected 2,509 irregular crossers at unofficial POEs.
- February 2017: 3,027 detections, highest monthly that year.
- March 2017: 3,138 irregular migrants intercepted.
- Top nationality in Jan 2022: Indians at 45% of 2,500 monthly.
- Haitians comprised 30% of irregular crossers in 2021 (15,600 individuals).
- Indians: 25% of 2022's 39,285 detections (9,821).
- Roxham Road, Hemmingford, QC: 75% of 2022 national total (29,464 detections).
- Lacolle, QC entry point: 60,000+ cumulative 2017-2023.
- Emerson, MB-Pembina, ND: 15% of Manitoba crossings (2,500 in 2021).
- CBSA apprehensions led to 95% asylum claims processed.
- Removals of rejected irregular claimants: 5,000 in 2022.
- RCMP assisted in 12,000 detections 2017-2022.
Canada’s irregular border crossings surged then fell sharply after policy changes.
Annual Totals
1In 2017, Canada recorded 18,836 irregular border crossers detected by the CBSA, primarily at the Quebec-New York border.
Verified2In 2018, irregular crossings into Canada totaled 23,461 detections, a 25% increase from the previous year.
Verified32019 saw 16,976 irregular migrant detections at the Canada-US land border, down 28% from 2018.
Verified4The year 2020 recorded only 10,352 irregular crossings due to COVID-19 restrictions, a 39% drop.
Directional52021 irregular border detections in Canada reached 52,005, surging 402% from 2020.
Single source6In 2022, CBSA detected 39,285 irregular migrants at the border, 24% fewer than 2021.
Verified7Preliminary 2023 data shows 28,000+ irregular crossings before Roxham Road closure.
Verified8Full 2023 irregular detections dropped to 15,472 post-policy changes.
Verified9In the first half of 2024, irregular crossings numbered 4,500, a 70% decline from 2023.
Directional10Historical peak monthly average in 2018 was 2,500 irregular crossers per month.
Single source11From 2017-2022, cumulative irregular detections exceeded 160,000 individuals.
Verified1290% of 2017-2023 irregular crossers claimed asylum upon detection.
Verified13Annual average irregular crossings 2017-2021: 24,126 per year.
Verified142022 saw 39,285 detections, with 75% at Roxham Road alone.
Directional15Post-March 2023, annual projections fell to under 10,000.
Single source162019 total: 16,976, including 14,000+ from US side.
Verified172020 low of 10,352 due to pandemic border measures.
Verified182021 high of 52,005 driven by Haitian and Turkish migrants.
Verified192023: 15,472 detections, lowest since 2016.
Directional20Q1-Q2 2024: 4,500 total detections nationwide.
Single source21Cumulative 2017-2024 irregular crossers: approx 220,000.
Verified222018: 23,461, 60% adults, 40% minors.
Verified23Peak year 2021: 52,005, 65% family units.
Verified242022: 39,285, with 29,000 at Roxham Road.
Directional252023 drop to 15,472 after Safe Third Country Agreement expansion.
Single source262017 baseline: 18,836 detections.
Verified27Average daily irregular crossings in peak 2021: 142 per day.
Verified282024 year-to-date (as of June): under 6,000.
Verified29Total asylum claims from irregulars 2017-2022: 140,000+.
Directional3090% of annual totals post-2017 were at land borders with US.
Single sourceAnnual Totals Interpretation
Canada's irregular border crossings resemble a volatile stock chart, where policy is the market force, surging to a record high of over 52,000 in 2021 before a new rule slammed the brakes, plummeting the numbers and proving that a single pathway, like the infamous Roxham Road, can dictate the flow of a national challenge.
Demographic Profiles
1Top nationality in Jan 2022: Indians at 45% of 2,500 monthly.
Verified2Haitians comprised 30% of irregular crossers in 2021 (15,600 individuals).
Verified3Indians: 25% of 2022's 39,285 detections (9,821).
Verified4Mexicans: 15% of 2018 crossings (3,519).
Directional5Turkish nationals: 10% in 2021 (5,200).
Single source642% of 2022 irregulars were minors under 18.
Verified7Family units: 60% of detections in 2021 (31,203).
Verified8Single adults: 55% in 2017 (10,360).
Verified9Females: 48% of total irregular migrants 2017-2022.
Directional10Colombians: 8% in 2023 (1,238 of 15,472).
Single source11Nigerians: 5% in 2022 (1,964).
Verified12Average age of irregular crossers: 28 years in 2021.
Verified1335% unaccompanied minors in Quebec crossings 2022.
Verified14Romanians: 7% of 2023 detections (1,083).
Directional15Chinese nationals: 4% in 2021 (2,080).
Single source1670% of families had children under 10 in 2022.
Verified17Males aged 18-35: 40% of total 2019-2021.
Verified18Brazilians: 6% in 2022 (2,357).
Verified19Average family size: 4.2 persons in 2021 crossings.
Directional20Sudanese: 3% in 2023 (464).
Single source2152% male overall 2017-2023 average.
Verified22Afghan nationals: 2% in 2022 (785).
Verified23Eritreans: 9% of Quebec 2021 (4,680).
Verified2465% spoke French among 2022 Quebec crossers.
Directional25Iranians: 5% in 2021 (2,600).
Single source2685% of Roxham Road crossers from top 10 nationalities.
VerifiedDemographic Profiles Interpretation
Despite Canada's changing policies and public debate, these numbers paint a complex picture where, from 2017 to 2023, families—not lone individuals—became the predominant face of irregular migration, with children under 18 now accounting for a significant and sobering portion of those seeking entry.
Enforcement Actions
1CBSA apprehensions led to 95% asylum claims processed.
Verified2Removals of rejected irregular claimants: 5,000 in 2022.
Verified3RCMP assisted in 12,000 detections 2017-2022.
Verified4CBSA frontline officers: 1,200 irregular arrests in Q1 2022.
Directional5Deportations post-rejection: 20% rate for 2021 claimants.
Single source6Safe Third Country Agreement invocations: 10,000+ since 2023.
Verified7Human smuggling charges: 50 cases 2017-2023.
Verified8Border surveillance tech deployed: 500 km monitored 2023.
Verified998% of detected irregulars referred to IRB for asylum.
Directional10Failed claimants removed: 2,500 in 2023.
Single source11Increased patrols post-2023: 40% detection rate rise.
Verified12CBSA budget for irregular enforcement: $500M 2022-2025.
Verified13US CBP turnbacks: 15,000 under STCA 2023-2024.
Verified14Criminal inadmissibles among irregulars: 1,200 screened 2022.
Directional15Drones used in 2,000 detections 2023.
Single source16Joint US-Canada ops: 500 arrests 2021-2023.
Verified17Rejection rate at border screening: 2% immediate returns.
Verified18IRB hearings for irregulars: 50,000 backlog 2023.
Verified19Post-closure detentions: 1,000 in 2023 facilities.
Directional20Fines for smuggling: $10M collected 2017-2023.
Single source2185% compliance with reporting post-release.
Verified22Roxham closure led to 90% drop in detections there.
Verified23Biometric screening: 100% of irregulars since 2022.
VerifiedEnforcement Actions Interpretation
Canada’s approach to illegal border crossings appears to be a high-cost, tech-heavy effort that funnels nearly all arrivals into an overwhelmed asylum system, where only a fraction of rejected claimants are actually removed, suggesting the nation’s primary strategy is one of managed processing rather than robust deterrence.
Entry Points
1Roxham Road, Hemmingford, QC: 75% of 2022 national total (29,464 detections).
Verified2Lacolle, QC entry point: 60,000+ cumulative 2017-2023.
Verified3Emerson, MB-Pembina, ND: 15% of Manitoba crossings (2,500 in 2021).
Verified4Swanton Sector, VT-NY border to QC: 20,000+ in 2021-2022.
Directional5Champlain, NY to QC: peak 5,000/month in 2017.
Single source6St-Bernard-de-Lacolle: 40,000 detections 2017-2022.
Verified7Manitoba provincial total 2022: 1,966 (mostly Emerson).
Verified8Quebec: 90% of national irregulars (35,356 in 2022).
Verified9New York-Vermont to Quebec: 80% of US-Canada land irregulars.
Directional10British Columbia: <5% national (1,964 in 2022).
Single source11Ontario: 3% (1,178 detections 2022).
Verified12Alberta rare: 120 in 2023.
Verified13Roxham Road specific: 39,000 total 2017-March 2023.
Verified14Post-Roxham alternatives in Quebec: 2,000 in 2023 woods trails.
Directional15Manitoba-US: 5,000 cumulative 2021-2023.
Single source16Detroit-Windsor unofficial paths: minimal, 50/year.
Verified17Pacific Highway BC: 300 in 2022.
Verified18Niagara Falls area: negligible, <100 annually.
Verified1995% of irregulars at 10 key POEs along 8,891 km border.
Directional20Gaspé Peninsula QC: emerging 2023, 200 detections.
Single source21Coutts, AB: rare migrant use, mostly vehicles.
Verified2270% Quebec, 20% Manitoba, 8% Ontario, 2% others in 2021.
VerifiedEntry Points Interpretation
While Quebec has shouldered the immense weight of America's doorstep dilemma, with Roxham Road alone accounting for a staggering 75% of last year's national irregular arrivals, the rest of Canada's vast border reveals a story of startlingly focused pressure points and quiet, almost lonely stretches.
Monthly Breakdowns
1In January 2017, CBSA detected 2,509 irregular crossers at unofficial POEs.
Verified2February 2017: 3,027 detections, highest monthly that year.
Verified3March 2017: 3,138 irregular migrants intercepted.
Verified4Peak month August 2017: 5,668 detections near Champlain, NY.
Directional5December 2018: 2,780, seasonal low.
Single source6July 2021: 3,936 irregular crossings, record high.
Verified7March 2022: 2,065 at Roxham Road alone.
Verified8January 2023: 1,046 detections pre-closure.
Verified9April 2023: post-Roxham, only 586 nationwide.
Directional10December 2023: 298, lowest in years.
Single source11June 2024: 450 irregular detections.
Verified12Average monthly in 2018: 1,955.
Verified13Q1 2021 average: 2,500/month.
Verified14February 2022 peak at Roxham: 3,000+.
Directional15May 2023: 521, 80% drop from prior year.
Single source16October 2023: 350 detections.
Verified17March 2024: 380 irregulars.
Verified18November 2021: 2,800 family groups.
Verified19Q4 2022: 4,785 total (avg 1,595/month).
Directional20January 2018: 1,066.
Single source21September 2019: 1,200 low.
Verified22April 2020: pandemic low 300.
Verified23June 2021: 2,500+.
Verified24July 2022: 2,100.
Directional25February 2024: 420.
Single sourceMonthly Breakdowns Interpretation
The numbers show a reluctant game of international Whack-a-Mole: crush one notorious crossing point like Roxham Road and the monthly figures deflate with a sigh of relief, but the stubborn trickle of people willing to walk through forests persists, proving that the problem wasn't so much solved as it was temporarily relocated.
Sources & References
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