Thank you for your questions, Ms. Kayabaga.
From the discussions we have had with people in the community, I have understood that people who enter via Roxham Road are sometimes afraid they will not be able to be accepted because they have no connection to Canada or immediate family here. At the same time, there is also the need to be in a place that feels a little bit familiar.
In Burundi, most of us are francophones. I know that when I came to Canada, hearing French being spoken made me feel better. It was difficult enough being far from home, so being able to come to a place that felt familiar to me was also important. After that, everyone has a unique story. There are people who are pursuing the dream of coming to Canada.
When you leave home, it is as much to be in a place where you are at last able to rest easy. There is also the feeling that the same welcoming atmosphere will not exist in the United States. As a result, when you see a place not very far away that looks familiar, you go there.