Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should do the responsible thing and announce that the federal government is officially opposed to the illegal entry of asylum seekers into Canada.

The fact he hasn’t done so is troubling, to say the least.

Over 200 people have entered Manitoba illegally from the United States around the Emerson border since January 1. They have been arrested by the RCMP but they’re not charged with illegally entering the country, even though it is technically an offence. Instead, they are screened and processed to make application for refugee status. That’s how the legal process works in Canada.

Most asylum seekers are law abiding people. But some have criminal backgrounds, are a threat to public safety and/or refuse to give their real names. Those ones are sent to provincial jail, as they should be, and are usually deported, eventually.

Under the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, asylum seekers can only seek refugee status in one country. So if they make application in the U.S., they’re turned away at the border if they try to enter Canada at a controlled crossing. The loophole around that is to cross illegally. Once on Canadian soil, illegal entrants won’t be turned away. Courts have ruled they have the same Charter rights as everyone else in Canada and are entitled to a hearing before an immigration board to seek refugee status.

Trouble is, the easier it is to cross the border illegally, and the more it’s condoned by our federal government, the more asylum seekers will enter Canada unlawfully. And that has to be dealt with.

Granted, it’s not always easy to balance the conflicting goals of trying to maintain border integrity while seeking to protect legitimate asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their homeland. But Trudeau has made the situation worse on two fronts.

In January he tweeted that “to those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada.”

That message, which was widely reported in the U.S., would have been fine if were directed solely to those seeking legal entry into Canada. But it wasn’t. It was seen as an open invitation to all asylum seekers, including those considering an illegal entry.

Trudeau didn’t say specifically that he condoned unlawful entry into the country. But his statement had the effect of giving it tacit approval.

More importantly, neither he nor Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale have publicly condemned the practice of illegal entry into Canada, which is shocking for a country that’s supposed to be upholding the rule of law. If crossing the border illegally is not explicitly condemned and discouraged by the federal government, it obviously encourages more people to do it.

At a bare minimum, Trudeau should announce publicly in no uncertain terms that the federal government is opposed to this practice and will do everything in its power to protect its borders. He should also be requesting the U.S. beef up control of the border on its side. And he and Goodale should start working closely with the provinces to find long-term solutions to this problem.

Yes, some asylum seekers would still gain illegal entry into Canada. And we should treat the legitimate, law-abiding ones with compassion and care. But Ottawa could be taking action now to at least minimize the flow of people crossing illegally – a flow that will only increase with the warmer weather. Because not only is it illegal, it can be dangerous for the asylum seekers themselves, especially during frigid temperatures and with the likelihood of serious spring flooding this year in the Red River Valley.

Unfortunately, Trudeau has been silent on this. And his inaction and lack of leadership is grossly irresponsible.