The United States and Canada have agreed on a new asylum rule in view of the increasing number of migrants at the common border. Canada has agreed to take in more migrants, said US President Joe Biden in a speech to the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa. "At the same time, the United States and Canada will work together to stop illegal border crossings."

For Biden, it is the first trip to Canada since taking office in January 2021. During the visit, the US President and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized the unwavering friendship between the neighboring countries.

In view of the sharp increase in illegal border crossings, the Canadian government had long been pushing for an agreement in Washington to be able to turn away more migrants. According to the media, almost 40,000 people came to Canada last year, and the number had increased dramatically. These are mainly people from Central and South America who travel on from the USA to Canada. In particular, the closed Roxham Road border crossing north of New York has recently become a symbol of illegal border crossings.

Biden: "Americans love Canadians"

An existing agreement should now be updated, according to a joint statement by the two countries. Canada has therefore agreed to take in 15,000 additional migrants within a year. Further steps should bring "a deterrence of irregular migration on our common border". This reportedly means Canada can turn immigrants away at the Roxham Road crossing.

Biden did not skimp on his praise for the NATO partner during his trip to Canada. The deputies stood up at the beginning of his speech in front of the parliament. Biden greeted his host with "Bonjour Canada" and went on to say, "Today I say to you and to all the people of Canada that you can always, always count on the United States of America," he said. There is no "more reliable ally" and no "steadier friend" than Canada.

"Americans love Canadians, and that's no exaggeration," said the Democrat. The two states would also share a heart because of the same values ​​they share. Relations between the two neighbors had cooled significantly under the then Republican President Donald Trump and were openly hostile in some cases.

Trudeau on Biden: "You are a true friend of Canada"

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also praised the deep connection in view of numerous challenges such as the climate crisis, the aftermath of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the still high inflation: "Our two nations are united at this moment and are finding solutions side by side. " These are "serious times" in which mutual friendship is more important than ever. "Mr. President, you are a true friend of Canada," Trudeau said to Biden.

Biden and his wife Jill arrived in Canada on Thursday evening (local time) and then met the Trudeaus for dinner. The US First Lady also visits a curling club in Ottawa with Trudeau's wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. A gala dinner was also on the program on Friday.