Bill Overview
Title: Canadian Trucker Freedom Act of 2022
Description: This bill provides asylum or refugee status to certain Canadian nationals involved in protests and waives certain requirements. Specifically, asylum or refugee status shall be available to a Canadian national who (1) engaged in nonviolent protest; (2) suffered certain harm, such as reputational harm, from their involvement in such protests and the government of Canada's invocation of the Emergencies Act; (3) continues to be subject to such harm; (4) requests asylum or refugee status at a port of entry or U.S. consulate; (5) consents to and tests negative for COVID-19; and (6) did not unlawfully enter the United States. Under this bill, such an individual may receive asylum or refugee status without a credible fear of persecution. (Generally, current law requires an individual applying for asylum or refugee status to be screened for credible fear, and their application is rejected if no credible fear is found.)
Sponsors: Rep. Herrell, Yvette [R-NM-2]
Target Audience
Population: Canadian nationals involved in nonviolent protests who may seek asylum in the U.S.
Estimated Size: 500
- The bill specifically targets Canadian nationals engaged in nonviolent protests against the Canadian government's invocation of the Emergencies Act.
- The protests mentioned are likely those associated with the 'Freedom Convoy' movement that took place in Canada in early 2022.
- The population affected would be those who suffered reputational or other harms as a result of their participation in these protests.
- This legislation provides asylum opportunities, hence it primarily impacts those who are currently or potentially subject to persecution in Canada related to protest participation.
Reasoning
- The population directly affected by the policy is relatively small, estimated at around 500 Canadian nationals who might seek asylum in the U.S. due to their involvement in nonviolent protests.
- This policy primarily impacts these Canadians and doesn't target current U.S. citizens, though there might be indirect effects on those working in immigration services or communities near entry ports.
- We need to simulate a range of perspectives, including people in relevant professions or locations who might be minimally impacted, to understand broader societal perceptions.
- Given the limited budget and target population size, the allocation might cover legal and administrative costs of processing around 500 claims, but would not significantly affect broader U.S. policy or societal structures.
Simulated Interviews
Immigration Lawyer (Detroit, MI)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems like it would increase the workload for legal services near the border.
- Though the target population is small, it might strain current resources dedicated to processing claims due to expedited procedures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
University Student (Buffalo, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm interested in how U.S. policies affect cross-border relations.
- The policy seems to support freedom of protest, which I value personally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Seattle, WA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't seen any immediate effects from this policy yet.
- It might affect more people in my community if many Canadians start coming here for asylum.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Tech Industry Analyst (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy won't directly affect me, but I find the international policy evolution interesting.
- Maintaining asylum options is important for international relations and personal freedoms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Journalist (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy provides interesting material for my reporting.
- There may be minimal direct impact, but it's important to highlight these immigration stories.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is niche but aligns with broader liberal immigration trends.
- Maintaining good diplomatic relationships should be balanced with domestic interests.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Airline Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any changes in travel regulations impact my job indirectly.
- This specific policy is unlikely to cause immediate large-scale changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Community Organizer (Boston, MA)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy's impact is narrow but highlights important immigration issues.
- I'll monitor any patterns of increased applications and community response.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired Customs Officer (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Though retired, the policy piques my interest due to my background.
- Past experience suggests such policies have limited visible impact unless tied to broader immigration reforms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Graduate Student (Denver, CO)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could be a useful case study in my research.
- Broader implications for U.S. asylum strategy are important to consider.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $10000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $10000000)
Year 3: $4500000 (Low: $2500000, High: $9000000)
Year 5: $4000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $8000000)
Year 10: $3500000 (Low: $1500000, High: $7000000)
Year 100: $1500000 (Low: $750000, High: $3000000)
Key Considerations
- The unpredictability of the number of Canadian nationals who might invoke this asylum opportunity based on changing political climates.
- Potential diplomatic implications influencing U.S.-Canada relations due to the provision of asylum in response to a Canadian domestic policy issue.
- The long-term integration costs and support services required once asylum is granted.