With the introduction of restrictions on the permanence of immigrants in the United States under the Donald Trump administration, hundreds of foreigners have headed to their northern neighbor, Canada, seeking political asylum or refuge.

Since January, more than 4,300 people have requested asylum in the country.

The majority of them have had their applications refused in the United States and see Canada as a “second chance” for a future outside their countries, many of which are the scene of conflicts or natural disasters.

Due to the massive influx of new arrivals from the United States, the Canadian government made the Olympic Stadium in Montreal available to serve as a shelter.

In addition, the Canadian government is building a camp in Quebec with a capacity of approximately 500 people.

“I lived in the United States for six years, but I was not allowed to work or study,” Louinel Chery, a Haitian immigrant crossing the border into Canada, told the BBC.

But Canada’s immigration policy is not as welcoming as it seems, believes Marjorie Villefranche, director of the NGO La Maison d’Haïti.

“People hope that things will improve for them and that something will happen that will guarantee their sustainability,” he explains.

“But proving that you are really an asylum seeker is a long and difficult process, and the risk of being deported is also very high here.”

She also pointed out that people have been misled by false information spread on social media regarding the ease of entry into the country.

This is what happened to one of the asylum seekers interviewed by the BBC.

“We saw on Facebook that Canada was open and would accept Haitians, so we came,” commented a man who preferred to remain anonymous.

Most illegal border crossers are detained by the Canadian Mounted Police and other security forces.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is under pressure to strengthen Canada’s border amid concerns about the increasing flow of immigrants.