Aracely Serrano and her two daughters, Madelin (14) and Itazayana (4), faced a difficult journey to Canada after being turned away at the border and spending two weeks in a U.S. detention cell. After being detained along with her common-law husband and daughters in a holding cell without windows, Serrano arrived once again at the U.S. port of entry in Niagara Falls, New York, in the hope of finally being allowed into Canada.
With a light blue suitcase and a black backpack in tow, Serrano and her daughters walked past surveillance cameras and entered the metal turnstiles marked “Entry to Canada.” As they made their way, Serrano spoke with cautious optimism, saying, “I have hope that this time, yes, it will happen.”
This wasn’t the first time the family had attempted to cross into Canada. Their first attempt was on March 17, when they made the decision to risk exposure and seek asylum in Canada to escape the Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies. Serrano, originally from El Salvador, and her family had been living undocumented in New Jersey. They hoped to claim asylum based on an exception under the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the U.S., claiming that Serrano had a Canadian brother who could sponsor her.
However, Canadian border officials questioned the authenticity of the documents Serrano presented and sent the family back to the U.S. They were detained for two weeks in a facility designed for short-term detentions, during which their living conditions were harsh. On one occasion, they were briefly taken to the Canadian port of entry but were turned away again. Despite the challenging conditions, including sleepless nights for young Itazayana due to nightmares, the family held onto hope.
Throughout their detention, Serrano’s brother, Israel Serrano, reached out for help. He contacted organizations like the Canada-U.S. Border Rights Clinic, which provides free legal support to migrants, and found Ottawa-based immigration lawyer Heather Neufeld. Neufeld filed a legal challenge to overturn the CBSA’s decision and allow Serrano to enter Canada and make her asylum claim.
Last week, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) finally agreed to allow Serrano to enter Canada and file her claim. Neufeld expressed relief, stating, “I think finally the government has recognized that they did the wrong thing, that they made mistakes.”
As Serrano approached the international border on her third attempt to enter Canada, she reflected on how this moment would change their lives forever. “Our lives are about to change, forever, for my daughters,” she said, relieved that the fear they had lived with for so long would no longer define their future.
However, even upon arriving at the Canadian port of entry, the family still faced questions from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Neufeld expressed concern as the process dragged on, saying, “There has been a lot of questioning, a lot of investigation.” Despite the uncertainty, Serrano’s determination to reunite with her brother and finally seek asylum in Canada remained strong.