The law says that if you cross into Canada, you are to cross at a port of entry. If a person is trying to cross into the country beyond a port of entry, outside of a port of entry, they are not following the law. But in section 133 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, it is very clear that however a person crosses the border, once they are on Canadian soil, due process has to be applied and you have to hear whether they have a legitimate claim or not. If they do not have a legitimate claim, then they are to be removed from the country. If they do have a legitimate claim—in other words, they convince the IRB or the Federal Court that they are a refugee in need of Canada's protection—then the law clearly, in section 133, says that the manner by which they entered the country is no longer relevant or actionable.
On July 24th, 2018. See this statement in context.