Canadian Bound Program
Since its inception in 1987, VRA has worked to provide logistical and legal support to thousands of asylum seekers transiting the U.S. to apply for refuge in Canada. This has been possible with the generous support of the Vermont community as they provided shelter and drove the refugees the last critical legs of their journeys. There have been many changes to border policy over time that have had detrimental effects on refugees. One such change, the Safe Third Country Agreement, was implemented on December 29, 2004. This bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Canada severely restricts asylum seekers who have entered the U.S. from applying for refugee status at the Canadian border and vice versa. In conjunction with other refugee advocacy groups, VRA fought hard to prevent the passage of this agreement by submitting testimony to the U.S. Departments of State and Justice and by testifying before the Inter-American Human Rights Commission.
For information about seeking asylum in Canada, please go here.
