NYC councillor in Montreal to gather information for Haitian asylum seekers fleeing U.S.

A New York City councillor spoke at Montreal's Maison d'Hati Tuesday about his search for answers on Canada's immigration policy, so that he can then relay the information to Haitians livingin the United States ontemporary protection status (TPS).

They say, 'Listen, the doors to Canada are open.- New York City councillor Mathieu Eugne

MathieuEugne said peopletell him daily that they've decided to seek asylum in Canada and that they believe it's "the Promised Land."

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He said misinformation is spreading because Haitians living in Canada are in communication with those in the U.S. and are telling them they will be welcomed north of the border.

"Every day Haitians come to my office and tell me, 'We're going to Canada,'"Eugne said during the news conference.

"They say, 'Listen, the doors to Canada are open.'"

'Situation in Haiti is still horrible'

In January, TPS for Haitians in the U.S.is set toexpire, and it has left many scrambling for other options.

"The situation in Haiti is still horrible. We're talking about people who had kids in the U.S. and now they are supposed to return to Haiti," Eugne said.

He stressed his primary goal is to get the U.S. government to extend TPS for Haitians by 18 months.

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Chantal Ism, the vice-president of the board of directors of La Maison d'Hati, said the Haitian community in Montreal, which consists of about 120,000 people, will do everything it can to accommodate "their brothers and sisters."

But she said there are many considerationsthese asylum seekers are overlooking when they come to Canada like healthcare and getting children into school.

"These people didn't know what they were getting into because they were poorly informed or misinformed," Ism said.

Influx of Haitian asylum seekers

Hundreds of asylum seekers are still crossing into Canada daily from the United States at theSaint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Que., border.

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The Canadian Armed Forces has set up a camp, made up of military-grade tents withfloors, lighting and heating at the border in order to accommodate people who are still waiting to be processed.

There's no guaranteethat Haitian asylum seekerswill be able to stay in Canada. To be successful, a claimant must demonstrate he or she has a legitimate fear of persecution, war or other violence in their country of origin.

• Watch aerial video of the Quebec border where asylum seekers are crossing