Under the new framework put in place this week, the Canada-U.S. border has been slightly opened to asylum seekers as the shutdown is extended.
It should be noted that people who are crossing illegitimately into Canada are still being disallowed entry but the terms of the new border arrangements stipulate that people who come in through formal land border offices and meet certain eligibility criteria will be allowed into the country.
Canada first reached an agreement with United States in March to shut the border to every non-essential traffic in a bid to halt the spread of COVID-19.
It placed a ban on almost everyone coming into Canada from the United States from filing a refugee claim in Canada.
The arrangement was hit with heavy criticism that Canada was trying to ignore its international obligations to those who seek asylum and the new framework is being viewed by some as being in line with the criticism.
