U.S. and Canada announce joint effort to curb illegal migration

The United and Canada on Friday announced that it would amend existing asylum agreements to incentivize legal migration.

Specifically, the two nations plan to expand the U.S.-Canada Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) that requires migrants who arrive at land ports of entry to seek asylum in the first country they enter, according to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

An additional protocol, announced Friday, will extend that requirement to individuals who arrive between ports of entry. This change will take effect on Saturday.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas celebrated the arrangement, saying "Today’s coordinated actions with the Government of Canada will protect the integrity of the asylum process, discourage dangerous crossings between ports of entry, and encourage lawful pathways for migration."

"Today marks an important milestone in fulfilling the bold vision for the Western Hemisphere laid out in the 2022 Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection and the 2021 Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership," he continued.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.