Mr. Biden Goes to Ottawa

American President Joseph Biden will speak to a joint session of Canada’s parliament on Friday.

In advance of Mr. Biden’s visit, news reports indicate that the United States and Canada have reached an agreement that will allow both countries to turn away asylum seekers at their borders at a time when migration has surged across the hemisphere.

The deal, which is set to be announced Friday by President Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after the two leaders meet in Ottawa, will allow Canada to turn back immigrants at Roxham Road, a crossing point from New York State for migrants seeking asylum in Canada via Quebec.

In exchange, Canada has agreed to provide a new, legal refugee program for 15,000 migrants who are fleeing violence, persecution and economic devastation in South and Central America, the official said, lessening the pressure of illegal crossings into the United States from Mexico.

The treaty only allows Canada to turn back a migrant — for example, someone fleeing violence in El Salvador — if the person crosses at an official port of entry between the two countries. Crossings at unofficial points of entry like Roxham Road have surged in the past several years, putting pressure on Mr. Trudeau to limit them. Until recently, officials in the United States have been resisting a change in the treaty.

The Government of Canada has welcomed refugees from Syria and elsewhere, and has pledged to increase immigration, earning Canada a reputation as being more open to migrants than many other Western nations.

President Biden is expected to use the speech to highlight the years of cooperation between the two countries on the war in Ukraine, climate change, confronting China and the global economy.