As Trump promises deportations, Ottawa says there’s a ‘plan’ for the border

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to deport millions of undocumented immigrants which could prompt those worried to flee to Canada through its border.

With Donald Trump set to return to the White House in January, Canadian government officials say they have a “plan” to ensure the country’s border security and control over who comes into the country.

Speaking Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the government is focused on Canada’s border and potential impacts of what could come next.

“What’s important for Canadians is to control our own border and that is something that’s really important, it’s fundamental,” she said.

“I do want to assure Canadians that we absolutely recognize the importance of border security and of controlling our own border, of controlling who comes into Canada and who doesn’t.”

She added: “What I am expecting is that Canadians expect us to control our border. Canadians quite rightly believe that it needs to be a decision of Canada and Canadians who comes to our country and who doesn’t and that is something that we absolutely have a plan to ensure.”

In the leadup to his election victory, Trump announced a variety of policies that could have a potential impact on Canada, including a promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants from the U.S.

That promise, experts who spoke with Global News said, could spark fearful undocumented immigrants to flee to Canada and subsequently overwhelm the border and social services in provinces and territories.

Such a surge was seen during Trump’s first term, when changes to temporary protected status for Haitians who fled to the U.S. sparked the influx of migrants claiming asylum at the Roxham Road border crossing into Quebec due to a loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement.