To escape the deportation of the Americans, it took this family from asylum seekers three attempts to enter Canada

For decades, the rainbow bridge, which crosses the Niagra River between the United States and Canada, was a symbol of peace that connects the two countries.

But for Arasseili, the Salvadorian immigrant, and her family, like the bridge is an obstacle that cannot be overpowered.

Along with her partner and her four -year -old daughters, the family first tried to cross the bridge on March 17.

They arrived with a bag and documents they believed that they confirmed to them that they would soon reunite them with the siblings of Arselli on Canadian lands and escape the threat of the deportation of US President Donald Trump.

But the plan failed. Not only once, but twice.

While a third attempt has proven its success, immigration experts and official statistics indicate the emergence of asylum seekers on the border not only their homelands, but the immigration policies of President Trump.

Arasili and her family were illegally living in the United States for more than a decade – only her younger daughter, who was born in New Jersey, had an American passport.

In the United States, Arali built a life for herself and tried to start an asylum application, but it did not succeed.

“They accused me of money and told me that I will get a work permit. I paid this to a lawyer, but they have never given me an answer about whether it had been approved or not,” she told BBC Mondo from a migrant shelter near the United States and Canada borders.

Arselli has 12 brothers, and likewise, many El Salvador left for safety concerns in rural society where they grew up. Two of them managed to start scratch in Canada.

After the inauguration of President Trump, amid reports of raids and mass deportation, Arasili began to fear her and the safety of her family – especially after the administration began sending illegal immigrants to the notorious Salvadori prison.

But since both Canada and the United States have signed the “Third Country Agreement Agreement”, immigrants, such as ARACELI, who have been rejected mineralists in one country that is not supposed to be given asylum in the other. The agreement states that asylum seekers must apply for asylum in the first country where they land.

There are exceptions. One of them is that if the asylum seeker, who arrives from the United States, can prove that they have soon in Canada that meets certain requirements, they can enter the country and start asking the refugees again.

So Arselli and her family said goodbye to the life she built in the United States to join her two brothers in Canada.

After crossing the rainbow bridge, they reached the border checkpoint to submit their asylum demand. She said that she has all the original documents that prove her relationship with her brother.

“Take everything, even our backpack, and we left nothing,”

They spent the entire night in the waiting room, and sometimes answered the questions, until the agent found a problem in the application.

“They found small details: on the certificate of (birth), my father had the latter’s name, and on my brother, he had two.”

Although the document has a clarification that shows that these errors are common in El Salvador, the agent deprived them of entering Canada.

The family returned and resigned clear, and was forced to face their greatest fear: they are separated and deported.

At the American checkpoint, they were placed in a room without windows.

“I spent the four of us 14 days in that cell,” Aracell said, explaining that they can go out to use the bathroom, but they are barely allowed abroad.

Her brother arrived at an organization working with immigrants, who helped them employ a lawyer, Heather Newfield.

While preparing it, without any explanation, the family was given a clear second chance.

Arselli recalls, “Two arrived at the cell and said:” Congratulations, you are going to Canada. “

But their hopes were short -term.

“We were very generous to welcome you here,” she said. “The United States will see what it is doing with you.”

A spokesman for the comment on the Arasili case in particular, referring to the country’s privacy laws.

One thing is certain – more families like ARACELI seeks to get exceptions to come to Canada.

While the number of people trying to cross the United States from Canada has decreased significantly, the number of asylum seekers who have been rejected has increased from Canada from the United States.

According to official figures from the United States government, 13,547 fears were reported along the entire northern border as of March 2025 – 70 % compared to the number registered in the first quarter of 2024.

On the contrary, the number of migrants looking for asylum in Canada and returning it to the United States increased this year, according to the data of the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA).

In April this year, 359 people, including adults and children, were not qualified to obtain asylum in Canada, compared to 180 people in April 2024.

Mrs. Neufeld believes that the increase in the number of people who have turned away is due to the “strict” border policy on the Canadian side. In December 2024, Canada announced an investment of 1.3 billion Canadian dollars (950 million dollars; 705 million pounds) to “enhance border security and enhance the immigration system”.

This step was largely considered an attempt to clarify Trump, who justified a widespread tariff against Canada by blaming the country for illegal immigration to the United States.

In February, amid a breeding trade war, the Canadian government announced that it would expand this program.

CBSA also committed to an increase of the number of removal operations from 16,000 to 20,000 (25 % increase) for financial years 2025-2027.

However, a CBSA BBC Mondo spokesman told that they did not change how they did things: “We haven’t made any changes to policies or operations.”

She refused to enter Canada for the second time, Arselli and her family were forced to cross the border into the United States, which I fear them.

“On this day and this era, it is not only about sending it to the United States. There is an immediate danger to detention and deportation,” said Ms. Newfield.

The problem now was that this second trip to Canada was calculated as a reconsideration of the case, and the only one that the family is entitled to under the regulations of that country.

Ms. Newfield said that Canadian border agents made a mistake.

“They did not behave as they were in the past with other clients, and they did not agree to an interview with the brother when they usually do,” she said.

According to Mrs. Neufeld, the family did not return to Canada from its free will, but because the American authorities told them that, and therefore their second attempt was not considered the official review.

For a third chance to cross the border and submit a asylum claim, Arselli will need a Canadian court to intervene.

When they returned to America, its partner was sent to a detention center for immigration and customs enforcement (ICE), while Arali was wearing an ankle screen and she and her children went to a migrant shelter.

“They came to tell us that they were giving us three minutes to say goodbye because my husband would have been transferred to a detention center.”

A week later, after complicated negotiations between lawyers, the Canadian Federal Court agreed to allow the family to return to the border to re -evaluate them.

On May 5, seven weeks after the first attempt, Arasili crossed the bridge again. This time, she had her lawyer with her.

After 12 hours, the border agent opened the doors and said, “Welcome to Canada and we wish you success in your new life.”

“I felt a tremendous joy, it is indescribable.”

But it was a sweet celebration and bitter, as its partner in the United States remained for two weeks, and it took place in the ongoing legal procedures. The family rented a lawyer to take over.

“They managed to get it out of the guarantee, and this is something that all detention centers did not allow. All family members had to make a great effort; they had to sell things to be able to pay for them.”

According to it, the issue of this family reflects the changes that occurred recently on the northern border.

“There is a lot of arcils, but we cannot know their location or the situation they face. Most people lack the ability to fight to respect their rights.”