More Americans applied for refugee status in Canada in the first half of 2025 than in all of 2024, making it the highest number of claims in a single year since 2019, new data from Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) showed on Thursday.
The board reported 245 claims from U.S. citizens out of about 55,000 total applications, compared with 204 for the whole of last year. Although the share remains small, the rise marks a significant uptick in Americans seeking protection north of the border.
Canadian authorities have historically accepted very few asylum claims from U.S. citizens, arguing the United States is a “safe” country. Under a bilateral agreement, asylum-seekers from other nations crossing the land border from the U.S. are typically turned back to apply there instead.
The IRB data does not specify reasons for the claims, but immigration lawyers told Reuters they are seeing growing numbers of transgender Americans seeking refuge. One trans woman from Arizona who applied in April described Canada as her “last hope,” while another woman said she crossed the border to file on behalf of her young trans daughter.
The increase comes as U.S. President Donald Trump and the Supreme Court have rolled back protections for transgender people, restricting access to gender-affirming care, military service, bathrooms, and participation in sports.
For an asylum claim to succeed, applicants must convince Canadian adjudicators that no part of the U.S. is safe for them. The IRB recently expanded its evidence files on the U.S. to include reports from Human Rights Watch and other organizations documenting the treatment of LGBTQ Americans.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said refugee claims made in Canada should not take priority over people “facing actual fear and persecution.”
Despite the skepticism, immigration advocates say the rising numbers reflect a growing perception among some Americans, particularly LGBTQ individuals, that their rights are under serious threat at home.
Written By Rodney Mbua
