Canada govt introduces laws to curb asylum claims amid experiences of misuse of refugee system
Toronto: Amid accusations of misuse of Canada’s refugee system, the federal government has launched laws that goals at curbing the sharp escalation in asylum claims over the previous couple of years, together with a serious improve within the variety of these from India.
The modifications are a part of the bigger Robust Borders Act, proposed by Canada’s Minister of Public Security Gary Anandasangaree in parliament on Tuesday.
A backgrounder on the invoice acknowledged that amongst “proposed ineligibility measures” to “shield the asylum system in opposition to sudden will increase in claims”, these made by individuals multiple 12 months after first arriving in Canada after June 24, 2020, wouldn’t be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board or IRB. “This may apply to anybody, together with college students and non permanent residents, no matter whether or not they left the nation and returned,” it stated.
As well as, it stated the invoice will be sure that claims are solely determined by the IRB whereas the claimant is bodily current in Canada, inactive circumstances from the system will likely be eliminated and voluntary departures sped up by making elimination orders efficient the identical day a declare is withdrawn.
Different immigration measures embrace new authorities, which “might be used for issues of public well being or nationwide safety”, which might permit the federal government to cancel, droop or change teams of immigration paperwork instantly, pause the acceptance of latest purposes and pause or cancel the processing of purposes already within the stock.
The outlet World Information reported final month that worldwide college students filed a document 20,245 asylum claims final 12 months, and one other 5,500 within the first quarter of 2025. Among the many nations with the very best such claims was India.
That can also be mirrored within the general asylum claims figures. In line with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or IRCC information, ten years again, in 2015, Indians filed 380 claims out of a complete of 16,050, simply 2.37%.
By 2023, India accounted for 11,260 claims out of 143,335, or simply below 7.9%. Final 12 months, these numbers jumped, to 32,285 out of 171,850 or practically 18.8%.
Within the first quarter of this 12 months, Indians filed 5,260 asylum claims out of 28,880, or about 18%.
India has expressed fear over the system being manipulated by pro-Khalistan parts. In September this 12 months, a senior official informed the Hindustan Occasions, that there was the growing phenomenon of younger individuals becoming a member of pro-Khalistan protests outdoors Indian missions in Canada, taking selfies after which leaving inside minutes.
Help networks for worldwide college students have additionally informed HT that as pathways to everlasting residency have narrowed, immigration brokers have taken to advising shoppers to take the refugee route to stay in Canada.
Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, stated, “That is about defending the integrity of our system whereas constructing a safer and extra resilient Canada.”
