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Montreal expects over 21,000 Haitians to seek asylum from U.S. – officials anticipate some heading to Vermont
by Compass Vermont
As uncertainties surrounding U.S. immigration policies intensify, Canadian officials and community leaders in Montreal are preparing for a notable increase in Haitian asylum seekers in 2025, with estimates surpassing 21,000 individuals potentially crossing into the city and Quebec region, based on data from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and insights from community advocates.
This expected rise is linked to the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 500,000 Haitians in the U.S. on August 3, 2025, reminiscent of patterns seen during previous administrations and tied to persistent humanitarian issues in Haiti, as outlined by migration specialists and U.S. policy updates.
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Meanwhile, in the neighboring U.S. state of Vermont, officials are anticipating that some Haitians may opt to relocate there instead, drawn by the state’s welcoming stance toward immigrants and its pressing demand for additional workers to bolster the economy.
Vermont’s Labor Needs
Vermont’s labor market faces significant shortages due to an aging population and retiring workforce, with projections indicating a need to add around 13,500 people to the labor force each year through 2035 to sustain growth and fill vacancies in sectors like construction, healthcare, manufacturing, and services.
Immigrants, including those from Haiti, are viewed as key contributors, according to the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project, being the fastest-growing working-age demographic in the state and 80% more likely to start businesses, which could help address these gaps while injecting economic vitality through taxes and spending power estimated at $619.9 million annually.
The Canadian projections are informed by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRBC), which processed about 21,800 Haitian asylum claims in 2024. Officials expect this to climb in 2025 amid U.S. shifts under President Donald Trump, such as the winding down of humanitarian parole for Haitians and others, per federal immigration notices and border reports.
Why Montreal?
Montreal’s appeal as a hub stems from its robust Haitian diaspora of over 150,000, offering cultural connections, French-language alignment, and family support, according to diaspora groups and census information. Data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reveals a spike in claims at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle crossing near Montreal. Haiti tops the list for asylum claims at the U.S.-Canada border in the first half of 2025, based on IRBC and CBSA data.
Employers have praised their contributions to the workforce, and state initiatives like the proposed Office of New Americans aim to streamline support for immigrants, including job placement, credential recognition, housing, and language services, directly tying into efforts to combat labor shortages.
Premier François Legault has raised capacity issues, noting Quebec cannot accommodate “all the world’s misery” amid strains from 600,000 temporary immigrants on housing, schools, and healthcare, as stated publicly.
Lack of Capacity
Montreal shelters run at 130-300% capacity, with asylum seekers filling over 70% of beds in certain spots, based on aid group reports. 2 sources
Under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s leadership since March 2025, Canada upholds commitments to valid claims while reinforcing borders via the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, as per policy documents. Critics point to system overloads causing years-long delays, per groups like the UNHCR. UNHCR figures highlight Canada’s long-standing refugee intake of over one million since 1980, with 2025 possibly marking highs.
As the TPS deadline nears, experts caution about border humanitarian strains, but in Vermont, the focus remains optimistic: “We win by celebrating our allegiance to the same diaspora,” echoed Frantz Benjamin, Quebec National Assembly vice-president, at the summit.
For both Montreal’s vibrant Haitian community and Vermont’s workforce-hungry economy, the months could have a substantial impact.
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Categories: Border, Business, National/International News
While it may a desire for these immigrants to want to settle here, they will soon find that there is no housing available, and Vermont has the second highest per capita homeless rate, right after California.
Without jobs or language skills, they will become a target for ICE
Vermont does not need more non citizens being supported by taxpayers. Non citizens receiving medicaid, housing assistance, food shelf, snap, education benefits, dental services, etc. While many Vermonters struggle while not being entitled to those benefits.
The Adminstration is tracking all immigrants most likely through DOGE. If they come to Vermont they won’t be here long.
We don’t need workers!!!! We definitely don’t need a Bunch of Haitians in our midst! I dealt with many in Maryland and many are absolutely criminals! I totally agree with you! No Vermont Taxpayer money for foreigners anymore! EVER!
Keep them moving, no staying here…
Qualifying vermonters are eligible for those same benefits.
Who is Compass Vermont? I see it has moved to substack. But does anyone know who the publisher is? Who writes it articles? How is it funded?
Compass Vermont looks like a disolved “Inc” and disolved “LLC” https://www.bizapedia.com/vt/compass-vermont-inc.html
Yes! Who are they!
Beware the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing:
Vermont Compass is, apparently, a front for those Vermont NGOs with extensive connections to various non-profit organizations, established to milk and redistribute various government grants and public monies. It is affiliated with the Vermont Community Foundation, which has over $50 Million in annual revenue and over $350 Million in total assets, an organization that normally receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or from the general public.
Vermont Compass of Vermont is a private Domestic LLC established in 2020 by Thomas G. Davis of Northfield. Vermont Compass is, apparently, a mouthpiece for Vermont Community Foundation and its many affiliates.
Vermont Compass is managed by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), another Vermont nonprofit organization affiliated with the Vermont Climate Change Economy Council, The Vermont Council on Planning, The Vermont Council on Culture and Innovation, The Vermont Agricultural Viability Council, and The Vermont Forest Products Council, to name a few. These are all typical Vermont non-profit NGOs that are, in my opinion, established to launder tax-payer monies, both State and Federal,, in the name of doing us good. They have hundreds of employees.
Vermont Compass is managed by the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD). The VCRD is another Vermont nonprofit organization that focuses on ‘enhancing the quality of life in Vermont’s rural communities’ through various initiatives, including community engagement, economic development, and data-driven decision-making. Vermont Compass serves as a platform for collecting and sharing data that helps communities understand their needs and make informed decisions.
In other words, Vermont Compass appears to be a privately controlled Vermont corporation, that avoids having to publish its management and financial details like the non-profits it represents. It is, IMHO, the mouthpiece of the proverbial Vermont ‘deep state’, in spades.
Of course, all Vermont Compass needs do is explain itself here on VDC so we can ask its principals some pointed questions…. like… why invite thousands of Haitians here to satisfy Vermont’s Labor Needs?
And why is appearing as a sort of “filler” instead of VDC articles?
Thank you, Jay for the detailed information you provided below about Vermont Compass as the umbrella for many VT NGOs. I find this ominous! Are the NGOs inviting illegals here, either directly or behind our back? And then playing innocent when they just show up and then demanding state funds which they administer and that keep them alive organizationally now that USAID funds have dried up? Someone far more politically active than I am quoted a legislator as saying the legislature only responds to organized constituencies, not to individuals. Well, there’s our problem. We are going to need an ad hoc organization, something like No More, no more illegals, no more homeless. I fear that our state is being deliberately flooded to break down the remnants of Yankee independence.
Carole: All we need to do is our own research, share what we find on VDC, and then vote for the candidates who actually respond and listen.
Theres your cow milkers
Americans will Milk Cows! Who do you think did before the illegals took their jobs because they worked cheaper!
Or Balints Ass Wipers.
Well Vermont much to the pain for law abiding citizens is about to receive its just desert. We have been fortunate that during the debacle under the Democrat/biden Admin Millions of illegal aliens flooded our nation – our Dem congressional delegation has been successful in keeping them out of VT.
Just think if VT had gotten the 10000-15000 illegals sent to Springfield.
If there was an equal distribution there would be 58 for each of the 256 municipalities.
Here in the Mad river valley that would be about 234 people we would have to cloths, feed, house and educate.
Does any Del/lib see the problem here? We can’t do that for our current population of Americans. Heck Burlington can’t even handle a free food stand.
So Sad!
Be careful what you wish for.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fatal-accidents-in-springfield-ohio-jumped-four-fold-last-year-as-residents-say-migrants-unfamiliar-with-us-rules/ar-AA1qCLfv
Vermont only has a labor shortage due to the thousands of people on the system. some do need help, but many do not, they sit home and working people pay for them. government has no money they get their money from working taxpayers.
Even if they turned out to be productive employees, where are they going to live? We already have a housing shortage.
They are going to live in our homes after our legislature taxes us out of them and off of our land.
Tp Laurie Gilman: Americans will NOT milk cows! Unemployment, and other “Social Programs” pay so well they don’t need to. Do you really think farmers would take the risk to hire illegals simply for the money? I know of some illegals that make over $900/week because they are willing to work!
To John Lincoln: What are you talking about? I’m an American. And, as a kid, I helped milk the cows on our family farm. I also know several ‘legal’ immigrants, with H-2A work visas who are working here today. The problem is that the illegal immigrants lower the standards, require public assistance to survive, and are actually detrimental to those working here legally.
And if Americans want ‘welfare’, have them work for it.
Nothing justifies breaking our laws.
Oh this is just what we don’t need when Vt already has growing homelessness and major housing issues Why Vt and not NH upstate NY and Maine?
Why don’t 500,000 of them arm up and take over their own country and make it peaceful, safe and productive? We do not need any more invaders here. These people know what a republic looks like. Go home and make yours even better.
My daughter works as a relief milker. She makes some extra money by giving the farmer family a little time off. She has a bachelor’s degree from UVM and was an intern at Minor Institute. She would love to have a dairy of her own but the start up costs are extreme. Our forefathers would be disgusted to see the mess this country is in today because of previous administrations.