Years ago, we had people trying to cross the southern border to enter the States for refuge. Now, in a wild turn of events, we have people crossing the border again, but this time, they’re trying to escape. At least one tried and successfully entered Canada, albeit illegally. 51-year-old Dan Livers from Michigan used a $25 kayak to row himself out of the US. Eventually, he encountered a police officer doing a routine property check around the area who spotted the army vet in the kayak.
The reason for Livers’ illegal entry was that he had criticized a Michigan non-profit group connected to the state government, which led him to fear that the organization would eventually come after him. “I just don’t want to get killed, and I hate looking over my shoulder. I promise I’ll do everything I can to be a good Canadian, and I will defend your border, I swear,” he told local authorities, according to CBC. “I wasn’t gonna run the gauntlet of ICE, sheriff’s department, state police, whomever.”
The Michigan Man Can Stay in Canada for Now, But Likely Not for Long
Well, the Michigan army veteran is in Canada and has been granted a temporary status to stay for a bit, but what now? Livers has applied for protection and asylum as a refugee, but it seems he might have some trouble ahead with that. An immigration lawyer said that Canada’s “fragile refugee system” was never meant to be used by US citizens trying to seek legal status in the country. On top of that, since there are several safer blue states he could have moved to instead, the Canadian government might not accept his case so easily. “Quite difficult, if not impossible” is the wording the immigration lawyer used.
“I thought things were awesome in the USA 🇺🇸🤔,” remarks a Canadian X user. “Ah yes, migrants coming from Global South, but they are perceived as job thieves,” jokes a Redditor. “Sounds like a scene out of South Park,” says another. Besides the sarcasm, plenty more online users chime in, saying how impossible it would be for the man to claim asylum. Things are bad in the US, for sure, but definitely not as bad as in some other countries. One user even criticized Livers for being a coward: “Kinda sounds like some sovereign citizen guy who picked a fight with his local government then fled when he realized that doesn’t exclude him from the law.”
Whatever the case, it’s fairly commendable that he actually reached Canada, on a kayak no less. However, his dreams might be shattered when he realizes he can’t stay, at least not permanently.
