WASHINGTON — Canada is teaming up with the U.S. and Spain in an effort to create legal pathways for migrants and ease the burden of irregular migration in North America.
A joint statement issued by all three countries says Canada is exploring ways to expand its temporary foreign worker program in the agriculture sector.
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Ottawa is also looking into allowing more displaced Latin American migrants on humanitarian and economic grounds, and promoting opportunities with small- and medium-sized businesses.
The statement comes as the U.S. ramps up its efforts to deal with the looming end of Title 42, the pandemic-era measure that barred asylum seekers on public health grounds.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced plans to send 1,500 additional U.S. troops to backstop Customs and Border Protection operations at the U.S.-Mexico frontier in anticipation of Title 42 ending May 11.
The U.S. plans to expand the number of visas it issues to Central American migrants by 25 per cent in the current fiscal year, and 10 per cent in fiscal 2024.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2023.
