I’m Canadian and want to do something about ICE! Therapy-style
This is blog 1 in a series.
If this blog feels yucky for you- keep reading-I’ll hold your hand through it if you need. But, don’t look away.
You might think therapy is this cozy, neutral bubble where you unpack your feelings, sip some herbal tea, and magically become a fully-functioning human. And sure, it can be that. But to pretend it’s only that, especially in a world that’s increasingly looking like a bad dystopian novel, is to miss the damn point. Therapy, at its core, is political. And understanding that isn’t about blame; it’s about empowerment.
The Elephant in the Room: Authoritarianism and Our Mental Health
Here’s the deal: when the world outside our therapy rooms is going sideways—when democracy is backsliding, when human rights are being eroded, when systems are actively trying to keep people down—that stuff doesn’t just magically disappear when we walk through the door. It seeps into our bones, messes with our heads, and makes it damn near impossible to find peace. Authoritarianism isn’t just a news headline; it’s a direct assault on our collective well-being [1] [2] [3].
As James Baldwin put it, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” And right now, we’re facing a lot. The U.S. is showing signs of a “rapid authoritarian shift,” with weakened rule of law and growing constraints on civil liberties [3]. This isn’t just some abstract political science lecture; it’s the air we breathe, and it’s toxic.
Social Work Ethics: Our Built-in BS Detector for Injustice
Now, for those of us in the helping professions, especially social workers, we’ve got a built-in BS detector: our ethics. Dignity and worth of the person and social justice aren’t just fancy words on a certificate; they’re the bedrock of what we do. When ICE is out there tearing families apart, detaining people without cause, and generally acting like the Gestapo [7] [8] [9], that’s a direct violation of every single one of those ethical principles. And for us, staying silent isn’t neutrality; it’s a missed opportunity to stand for what’s right.
Audre Lorde nailed it when she said, “If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive.” In the face of systems that seek to dehumanize, our ethical (and, you know, HUMAN) obligation is to affirm the inherent worth of every single person, especially those being targeted.
Canada: We’re Not an Island, Folx
“But I’m in Canada!” you might think. “That’s a U.S. problem!” While Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree might try to tell us “Canada is not Minnesota” [24], the truth is, we’re not an island. The authoritarian creep south of the border affects us, whether we want to admit it or not. Our own government is still clinging to the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA), which basically says, “Hey, U.S., you’re totally safe for refugees!” even when all evidence points to the contrary [13] [14] [15]. This means that most asylum seekers arriving at our land border from the U.S. are automatically denied the chance to claim refugee status here, effectively sending them back to an increasingly hostile environment. That’s not just a policy; it’s a challenge to our values.
Desmond Tutu reminded us, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” So, for us Canadians, pretending the STCA isn’t a problem, or that ICE’s actions don’t concern us, is a choice. And we have the power to choose differently.
Our Collective Action Makes a Difference (Seriously)
So, what’s a Canadian to do? A lot, actually. Recognizing that our work, our well-being, and our ethics are inherently political is the first step. Then, it’s about putting those ethics into action. We can support organizations like the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) [18] who are fighting to scrap the STCA. We can contact our MPs and urge them to do the right thing (see below for more on this). We can donate to groups providing legal aid and humanitarian support to those caught in the crosshairs of ICE.
bell hooks taught us that “To be truly visionary we have to be willing to die for our vision.” While we might not be literally dying, we need to be willing to fight for a vision of a just world, where therapy isn’t just a band-aid, but a tool for liberation.
This isn’t about being a perfect activist; it’s about being a conscious human. It’s about understanding that our mental health, our clients’ mental health, and the health of our society are all intertwined with the political landscape. So, let’s stop being neutral. It’s boring, it’s unethical, and frankly, it’s just not going to cut it anymore. Let’s get loud, get active, and make a difference.
Contacting your MP
The official link for Canadians to find their local Member of Parliament (MP) using their postal code is:
https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
This tool allows people to search by postal code to get the contact information for their current representative in the House of Commons.
And here’s a sample letter:
Subject: Urgent: Request for Suspension of the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA)
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Postal Code]
[Your Email]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]
[MP’s Name]
Member of Parliament for [Constituency Name]
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
Dear [MP’s Name],
I am writing to you today as a concerned constituent of [Constituency Name] to urge the Canadian government to immediately suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) with the United States.
As a [mention your profession if relevant, e.g., social worker, therapist, community member or as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident), I am deeply committed to the principles of human rights, dignity, and social justice. The current situation in the United States, marked by a rapid authoritarian shift and aggressive immigration enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), makes the designation of the U.S. as a “safe” country for refugees fundamentally inaccurate.
Under the STCA, asylum seekers arriving at our land border are being turned away and sent back to an environment where they face family separation, arbitrary detention, and a lack of due process. This policy does not reflect the values of compassion and fairness that Canadians hold dear. By maintaining this agreement, Canada is effectively denying vulnerable individuals the right to seek safety, in direct contradiction to our international obligations.
I am calling on you, as my representative in Parliament, to:
1. Advocate for the immediate suspension or withdrawal from the Safe Third Country Agreement.
2. Urge the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to prioritize the protection of human rights over restrictive border policies.
3. Support initiatives that provide safe and legal pathways for those fleeing persecution and violence.
Our humanity is bound up in the humanity of others. We cannot remain neutral while injustice persists at our doorstep. I look forward to hearing about the steps you and your party are taking to address this critical issue and uphold Canada’s reputation as a global leader in refugee protection.
Thank you for your time and for your service to our community.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]
References
[1] The Century Foundation. (n.d.). Century's New Democracy Meter Shows America Took an Authoritarian Turn in 2025. Retrieved from https://tcf.org/content/report/centurys-new-democracy-meter-shows-america-took-an-authoritarian-turn-in-2025/
[2] Harvard Kennedy School. (n.d.). Democracy in 2025: Harvard professors on rising authoritarianism. Retrieved from https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty-research/policy-topics/democracy-governance/democracy-2025-harvard-professors-rising
[3] Time. (n.d.). U.S. Shows Signs of 'Rapid Authoritarian Shift,' Report Warns. Retrieved from https://time.com/7339363/us-civil-liberties-authoritarian-shift-civicus-trump/
[7] American Immigration Council. (n.d.). Immigration Enforcement Could Come to Your Town. Retrieved from https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/what-to-do-if-ice-immigration-enforcement-comes-to-town/
[8] League of Women Voters. (n.d.). What's Happening with ICE and How to Fight Back. Retrieved from https://www.lwv.org/blog/whats-happening-ice-and-how-fight-back
[9] ICE. (n.d.). Enforcement and Removal Operations. Retrieved from https://www.ice.gov/about-ice/ero
[13] Canadian Council for Refugees. (n.d.). Safe Third Country. Retrieved from https://ccrweb.ca/en/safe-third-country
[14] Canadian Council for Refugees. (n.d.). CCR Warns UN that Canada is Backsliding on Basic Rights for Refugees in New Report. Retrieved from https://ccrweb.ca/en/ccr-warns-un-canada-backsliding-basic-rights-refugees-new-report
[15] Canadian Council for Refugees. (n.d.). Safe Third Country: more information. Retrieved from https://ccrweb.ca/en/safe-third-country-more-information/
[16] Canadian Council for Refugees. (n.d.). CCR renews call for Canada to withdraw from STCA in joint statement. Retrieved from https://ccrweb.ca/en/ccr-joint-statement-canadas-need-withdraw-stca
[17] Canadian Council for Refugees. (n.d.). End the Safe Third Country Agreement. Retrieved from https://ccrweb.ca/en/sign-open-letter-STCA
[18] Canadian Civil Liberties Association. (n.d.). Civil Society Groups Call for Immediate Suspension of Safe Third Country Agreement with United States of America. Retrieved from https://ccla.org/equality/lgbtq2s/civil-society-groups-call-for-immediate-suspension-of-safe-third-country-agreement-with-united-states-of-america/
[24] CTV News. (n.d.). 'Canada is not Minnesota,' minister says in reaction to U.S. immigration raids. Retrieved from https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article-canada-is-not-minnesota-minister-says-in-reaction-to-us-immigration-raids/
