With Trump back in office, some Ontario immigration lawyers see bump in American calls
Calls about leaving U.S. rose 300 per cent after November election, one lawyer says
As U.S. President Donald Trump rolls out a flurry of policy changes to start his second term, some Ontario immigration lawyers have been fielding an increase in calls from those looking to relocate north of the border.
Lawyers say they're hearing from Americans looking north due to their political beliefs, members of marginalized groups worried what new administration may mean for their safety, and dual citizens looking to renounce their U.S. citizenship.
"They're, to pick one word, scared. Worried about where they will feel safe, how they'll maintain their identity, to be accepted," said Mario Bellissimo, a Toronto-based immigration lawyer.
Trump has signed executive orders aimed at the 2SLGBTQ+ community, civil rights and refugees. On Monday, he signed orders that the government recognize only two sexes and begin laying off federal diversity and inclusion staff.
Trump also signed an order preventing federal money from being used to "promote gender ideology," and rolled back 78 Biden-era orders, including ones aimed at racial inequity and discrimination. He also moved to revoke birthright citizenship, halt refugee arrivals and suspend the U.S. Refugee Admission Program.
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Bellissimo said his firm saw a 300 per cent spike in inquiries after the November election, and another uptick since Monday's inauguration.
It hasn't been as large this week, however, due to uncertainty over Canadian immigration policy, an increase in temporary resident application refusals, and federal messaging dissuading asylum seekers, he says.
"My sense is it's had an impact on individuals thinking about Canada as a potential destination."
In October, Ottawa slashed immigration targets, and this week, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said it would cut roughly 3,300 jobs.
Seeking permanent residency
Veronica Riley, an immigration lawyer in Sarnia, said her office had also seen more interest from Americans seeking pathways to permanent residency, including those with no ties or previous interest in Canada.
"I have existing American national clients, who are permanent residents of Canada, who have planned methodically to maintain their residency requirement(s) in Canada," so they could renew depending on the election, Riley said in an email.
Nearly 60,000 people with sole American citizenship, and roughly 139,000 dual citizen Americans were living in Ontario as of the 2021 census.
Since November, the advocacy group PFLAG Canada has heard concerns from the 2SLGBTQ+ community about policies planned by the Trump administration, said Vash Ebbadi-Cook, its communications director.
The group has also fielded more questions about living in and travelling to the U.S., and about immigrating to Canada, he said. The group is working on developing immigration-related information and resources.
"Historically, Canada hasn't accepted queer and trans Americans as asylum seekers and refugees, specifically around their 2SLGBTQIA+ identities," he said.
"We're looking into how we can continue to advocate [to allow] that process to ease up and allow reconsideration for American asylum seekers."
As a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Ebaddi-Cook said he personally had reconsidered U.S. travel. Several PFLAG volunteers have also been impacted, concerned about returning to the U.S. given the current policy climate, he said.
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At Siskinds Law Firm, the lead immigration lawyer based in London said U.S. elections tend to cause a temporary jump in calls from Americans looking to come north, including in 2016 when Trump first took office.
More recently, the firm has seen calls from dual citizens looking to renounce their U.S. citizenship, something her office hadn't seen in previous elections, said Elena Ashford.
Those looking to come to Canada face an uphill battle. Changes to immigration policy have made it even harder to get permanent residence, even with Canadian education or work experience, she said.
"The desire itself does not have foundation for the basis to actually make an application for permanent residence," Ashford said.
Last year, Canada granted permanent residency to just under 8,600 American citizens, about 600 fewer than 2017, the first year of Trump's first term. That number rose to nearly 11,000 the following year.
Ashford's office doesn't deal with asylum or refugee claims, but rather citizenship and permanent resident applications, skilled worker matters and work permits, among others.
"Most conversations just end with me explaining to them that they actually have no basis to move ... unless they have a job offer from a Canadian employer who wishes to support a work permit application," she said.
She estimates 10 per cent of the calls she's gotten lead to an application, with spousal applications making up many of them. Unlike the U.S., Canada allows applications to be sponsored by a common law partner.
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With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press