While an average of 100 asylum seekers showed up at Roxham Road last year on average, it had processed just 33 applications since it closed on Saturday, according to border services.
Of that number 15 were admitted to the United States.
The remaining 18 were deemed eligible to pursue a defense in Canada under the exceptions provided in the new rules.
Despite these statistics, many people living near Roxham Road say they are skeptical about the new regulations.
“It’s definitely not over,” the woman points out.
“According to me, they will pass through other places,” adds the man.
The government has not indicated whether surveillance at the border will be increased.
“We will continue to look at what is necessary to ensure the security of our borders and most importantly to demonstrate that we have an immigration system that works for Canadians,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The whereabouts of the 15,000 additional migrants that Canada has committed to accepting also remains unknown.
“Our reception capacity is exceeded,” said minister Jean-Francois Roberge.
“There will be discussions with various administrations, but I think our appeal to the rest of the provinces will be heard in the next few months, the ambassador of Quebec and the minister of Canadian heritage, Pablo Rodriguez is being promoted as part. We had discussions with Ontario, and with the Atlantic provinces.
Others, like the NDP, lament that the Ottawa-Washington agreement will plunge many migrants into the unknown, not to mention the many people who are at risk of being tempted to risk their safety to enter Canada.
