The Canadian union that represents border officials is calling for an additional 300 people to patrol in between official entry points, likening the current border to "Swiss cheese."
Customs and Immigration Union president Jean-Pierre Fortin told CTV News that many of his organization's members has expressed concern over the number of illegal entries into the country.
"The frontline officers are actually the ones giving me the numbers and they're slightly different. They're higher right now," he said to Evan Solomon, host of CTV's "Question Period."
Most migrants attempting to enter Canada cannot make an asylum claim at a border checkpoint, leading some to enter the nation illegally since Canada must hear asylum claims made by those already in the country.
Even if a refugee is apprehended making an illegal crossing, they cannot be charged until their refugee claim is processed.
"There's a clear provision in the law that says people who cross the border or use false documents in order to come to Canada to make a refugee claim cannot be charged unless their claim is rejected, because the UN convention says people shouldn't be punished for illegal entry if it's for the purpose of making a refugee claim," refugee and human rights lawyer Lorne Waldman told CBC News.
Fortin also called for changes to the Canada Border Services Agency, which is "not even allowed to chase" when spotting illegal entry. Instead they must call in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
"The RCMP doesn't have the resources and what we're asking the government at this point in time, we want to make sure that we should be closing that gap. We should have border guards actually patrolling these [areas]."
The office of Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told CTV News through a spokesman that "CBSA operational policy restricts enforcement between ports of entry and directs officers to refer to their local RCMP detachment in cases of suspected violations.
"The RCMP and CBSA are enforcing the law. They're enforcing it well and to the letter. At the moment, they are sufficiently staffed to handle the volume. Should more resources be required, they will let us know."
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