Jan. 6 rioter detained in Canada drops asylum claim

Antony Vo, an American man convicted of misdemeanour offences for his involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot, has made headlines recently as he seeks to withdraw his asylum claim in Canada and return home to the United States. Vo, who was sentenced to nine months in prison for his role in the riot, fled to Canada to seek asylum, claiming political persecution.

However, Vo’s lawyer, Robert Tibbo, now reveals that his client wishes to go back to the United States following a recent pardon issued by former President Donald Trump to some of the January 6th rioters. Tibbo asserts that Vo was among those pardoned by Trump and has been able to obtain the necessary paperwork to drop his asylum claim.

Despite Tibbo’s claims, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) maintains that Vo was not pardoned by Trump and that they have confirmed this information with U.S. officials. Vo was arrested in Whistler, B.C., three weeks ago by CBSA for not entering Canada through an official port of entry. He has been detained since then as the agency investigates his case.

Tibbo argues that a U.S. arrest warrant issued by the Biden administration for Vo’s failure to surrender to a corrections facility has been quashed due to Trump’s pardon. Prior to the pardon, Vo was also seeking an appeal on his convictions. The CBSA has not responded to inquiries regarding Vo’s situation.

The CBSA is responsible for assessing the admissibility of individuals entering Canada and investigating those who may be in the country unlawfully. They have the authority to arrest and detain individuals under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

As Vo’s case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether he will be allowed to return to the United States or if he will face further legal challenges in Canada. The complexities of his situation highlight the intricacies of asylum claims and the legal processes involved in immigration cases.