From Digital Camera World · · 1m 20s
Ruth Kaplan's Border Crossing Story
Ruth Kaplan's five-year border crossing documentation vanishes after closure.
In brief
Ruth Kaplan's five-year border crossing documentation vanishes after closure. Ruth Kaplan's book reveals a border crossing that no longer exists after closing in 2023. Originally reported by Digital Camera World.
Roxham Road Border Site
Asylum seekers wait in line outside the Canadian border building to begin their refugee claims.
Ruth Kaplan's Five-Year Documentation
Kaplan took pictures from 2018 to 2023, documenting the border crossing that closed in 2023.
The Border Crossing Process
Asylum seekers were told they couldn't cross legally but could proceed to claim refugee status after acknowledging the warning.
Safe Third Country Agreement
Under the Safe Third Country Agreement, asylum seekers from the US couldn't claim asylum at official crossings but could use Roxham Road to enter Canada.
Roxham Road Closure
The border crossing closed in 2023 after the two countries amended the Safe Third Country Agreement.
Kaplan's Personal Connection
Kaplan's mother survived a concentration camp, giving her familiarity with the asylum seekers she documented.
Seasonal Changes
The border site changes with seasons: summer has wildflowers and winter has floodlights and snow.
The Book's Release
Crossing: From USA to Canada, Walking Roxham Road by Ruth Kaplan is published by Kehrer Verlag at $50 / £32.
No Trace Left
Kaplan says the site reveals no trace of what happened after closing in 2023.
At a glance
Ruth Kaplan's book reveals a border crossing that no longer exists after closing in 2023.
