Liberal MPs head south to ease flow of migrants

OTTAWA— Liberal MPs are headed back to the United States to fend off a new surge of asylum seekers at the Canada-U.S. border following the latest move by the U.S. to tighten its immigration policy.

The Trump administration has placed around 5,000 Nicaraguans on notice that their temporary status in the U.S. will be revoked in the next year, while nearly 86,000 Hondurans have been given an extension until July, at which point their status could be revoked.

Upwards of 200,000 Salvadorans are also awaiting a decision on their status, which is expected in the coming weeks.

Government officials have said that, so far, there’s no sign of a mass migration of Central Americans. But there could be, briefing notes prepared by officials at Global Affairs suggest.

A lack of economic opportunities, fear of violence and insecurity and climate change are key drivers for illegal migration from the region, and the notes point out the UN refugee agency has recently said migrants are often victims of violence, sexual abuse and human trafficking.