When President Trump reinforced America’s southern border like it was Fort Knox, would-be migrants didn’t stop trying — they just rerouted. And for a while, there was one northern country eager to step in with open arms: Canada. After all, our overly polite neighbors have long enjoyed throwing shade at Uncle Sam’s immigration policies while playing host to the world’s tired, poor, and undocumented.

But now? It seems the tables have turned. The nation that once prided itself on being the sanctuary alternative to the “cold-hearted” U.S. is quietly, if not a little sheepishly, tightening its borders. Apparently, it’s easy to preach open arms until the floodgates actually open.

Turns out, when your airport becomes a revolving door for nearly 24,000 asylum seekers from just one country, reality comes calling — and it’s holding a visa application form.

From ‘The Post Millennial’:

“Asylum claims from Mexican nationals to Canada rose from 260 to 23,995 between 2016 and 2023, an increase of more than 9,000%.”

Let those numbers sink in. That’s not a blip. That’s what happens when you scrap your visa requirement to signal global virtue — and forget to reinforce your national interest. Canadian officials made that very mistake in 2016 when they nixed visas for Mexican travelers. The repercussions? A record-breaking explosion in claims that flooded their asylum system and overwhelmed provinces like Quebec.

It didn’t take long for them to backpedal in a hurry.

Liberal dreams slammed into cold, hard reality

The initial pitch from Canadian leadership in 2016 had all the idealistic hallmarks: tighten Latin American relations, prove moral superiority over America, and of course, accept more migrants. But by late 2023, the consequences were impossible to ignore. The vast majority of claims were being made not at remote borders — but at airports. And worse? Over half of those asylum claims were abandoned or flat-out rejected. They weren’t genuine cases — they were opportunistic gambits.

The response came in early 2024: Visa requirements were back on the table. And just like that, the flood slowed to a trickle. In fact, Mexican asylum claims dropped by a staggering 75%.

That’s not speculation. That’s decisive policy working almost overnight.

Suddenly, the same leaders who once dismissed border enforcement as xenophobic were singing a very different tune.

You can’t run a country on virtue-signaling

Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller admitted the asylum system was strained “federally and provincially.” With provinces like Quebec overwhelmed and the national system cracking under the weight, Canada learned the hard way that moral posturing doesn’t pay for healthcare, housing, or immigration courts.

The breakdown was predictable and politically painful. It exposed the gap between progressive intentions and logistical limitations. Even the Mexican government wasn’t thrilled—Canada’s reversal brought diplomatic friction—but there was no denying the necessity of the move.

Here’s what it all adds up to: When faced with a real policy crisis, liberal Canada didn’t double down on ideology. It pivoted hard to a solution conservatives have championed for years—strong borders backed by enforceable standards. Welcome to the realm of practical governance.

If even Trudeau-era Canada gets it, what’s Washington waiting for?

So let’s put this in perspective. If even Justin Trudeau’s Canada — a nation that’s been lecturing the U.S. on inclusivity for the better part of a decade — can admit that open borders are unsustainable, what excuse does America have?

Canada is smaller, less populated, and already buckled since lifting visa rules in 2016. Meanwhile, the U.S., with more geography to guard and greater incentives for illegal entry, still has political leaders who treat security measures like hate crimes.

The Trump administration’s strengthened border efforts have pushed illegal flows northward, shifting Canada from virtue signaler to overwhelmed victim. They acted. They enforced. And it worked.

That leaves American leadership with one obvious question: Why are we still pretending comprehensive enforcement is inhumane when even our progressive neighbors admit it’s necessary?

Common sense and national integrity shouldn’t be partisan ideas.

Key Takeaways:

• Canada reinstated visa rules in 2024 after a 9,000% spike in Mexican asylum claims overwhelmed their system.
• Over half of those claims were either abandoned or rejected, exposing misuse of the asylum process.
• The policy shift led to a 75% drop in claims, proving that enforcement works—even in liberal Canada.
• America should take heed: strong borders and smart policies aren’t cruel—they’re responsible.

Sources: The Post Millennial