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Ottawa Citizen
6 hours ago
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
U.S. crackdown on illegal immigrants is sending a surge of refugees to Canada
As fears of refugee deportation mount in the United States, a surge of asylum seekers is turning to Canada — only to find a border that is getting increasingly hard to cross. Article content The number of refugee seekers processed by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has shot up by 87 per cent between January and April. Article content Article content In April, 494 ineligible refugee claimants from the U.S. were turned back at the Canadian border under the Safe Third Country Agreement, which bars most people from seeking asylum in Canada at the border. That's up from 280 in January — a 76 per cent increase. Article content Article content Growing refugee traffic at the Canadian border this year has emerged amid a looming clampdown on illegal immigration in the U.S. that experts say could trigger a flood of asylum seekers to Canada. Article content Article content A controversial U.S. move in late March that paused protected legal status for refugees from Colombia, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV) is likely behind the spike, say immigration lawyers and researchers. Article content 'That is what we would see as a major indicator towards potential migration flows northbound,' said Dan Anson, director general of intelligence and investigations for the CBSA. 'Those… main groups… are likely going to be targets of potential enforcement and removal operations (in the U.S.)' Article content Toronto immigration lawyer Mario Bellissimo said his office has seen around a 200-per-cent jump in inquiries in the past week. Article content 'Any time you have a dramatic announcement, it does prompt individuals to move,' he said. Article content Article content On Tuesday, the federal government responded to 'rising migration' concerns with new measures it says will make the country's immigration and asylum systems 'more responsive to new and developing pressures.' Article content Among those steps will be new ineligibility rules to 'protect the asylum system against sudden increases.' Article content The CHNV parole program in the U.S. initially offered 'parole' to certain Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to stay in the U.S. for two years. The Trump administration paused those protections on March 25, 2025. Article content The following month, asylum claims processed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) rose to 4,560, up from 2,940.
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
Federal bill includes new security powers to tighten border, immigration system
OTTAWA - Proposed federal legislation would give authorities new powers to search mail, make it easier for officials to pause or cancel immigration applications and expand the Canadian Coast Guard's role to include security activities. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree introduced the legislation in the House of Commons on Tuesday. The government says the wide-ranging bill aims to keep borders secure, combat transnational organized crime, stop the flow of deadly fentanyl and crack down on money laundering. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'To be truly strong, Canada must be secure,' Anandasangaree told reporters. 'That is why I'm asking all parties to come together to support this very important legislation.' The bill is part of Ottawa's effort to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump that Canada is doing enough to stem the southbound flow of drugs and migrants. Trump used claims about cross-border fentanyl traffic and irregular migration to justify imposing tariffs on Canadian imports. 'Canada will continue to work with our U.S. partners to ensure that our border remains secure, while we continue to manage the legitimate and efficient movement of people and goods between our countries,' Anandasangaree said. 'The additional measures we're taking today to further secure Canada's border will help sustain the security and economic partnership for many years to come.' The proposed legislation would, among other things: — require owners and operators at certain ports to provide facilities for the Canada Border Services Agency to examine and detain goods bound for export; — remove barriers that prevent police from searching mail, where authorized to do so under the law, to advance a criminal investigation; ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW — expand Canada Post's inspection authority to open mail; — protect the refugee system against sudden increases in claims by introducing new ineligibility rules, and strengthen the ability to cancel, suspend or stop accepting new applications; — allow the Coast Guard to conduct security patrols and collect, analyze and circulate information and intelligence for security purposes; — enhance the ability of the RCMP to share information collected on registered sex offenders with domestic and international partners; — facilitate police access to basic information and data and amend the law governing the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to bolster the spy service's investigative tools; — ensure that electronic service providers support the police and CSIS in criminal and intelligence investigations by compelling them to fulfil legally authorized requests to access or intercept information and communications; — enable the health minister to more rapidly control precursor chemicals that can be used to produce illicit drugs; ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW — introduce new restrictions on large cash transactions and 'third party deposits.' The new bill builds on earlier Canadian border security measures, including round-the-clock surveillance of the border using helicopters, drones and surveillance towers. Ottawa is also working with Washington on a North American 'joint strike force' to target organized crime groups that work across borders. — With files from Alessia Passafiume This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2025. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
National Observer
a day ago
- General
- National Observer
Liberal government legislation to tighten Canada-US border expected today
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree is expected to introduce a bill today spelling out the federal government's next steps on border security. The recent throne speech promised legislation to bolster security at Canada's borders and new tools for police and intelligence agencies to help them stop the flow of deadly fentanyl and its precursors. The government also said the Canada Border Services Agency will be given new powers to examine goods destined for export to prevent the movement of illegal and stolen products, including cars. The Liberals have worked to persuade US President Donald Trump that Canada is doing enough to stem the southbound flow of drugs and migrants since he blamed fentanyl and irregular migration to justify tariffs on Canadian imports. The new bill will build on earlier Canadian measures, including round-the-clock surveillance of the border using helicopters, drones and surveillance towers. Ottawa is also working with Washington on a North American "joint strike force" to target organized crime groups that work across borders. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2025.
CBC
a day ago
- General
- CBC
Liberal legislation to further tighten Canada-U.S. border expected today
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree is expected to introduce a bill today spelling out the federal government's next steps on border security. The recent throne speech promised legislation to bolster security at Canada's borders and new tools for police and intelligence agencies to help them stop the flow of deadly fentanyl and its precursors. The government also said the Canada Border Services Agency will be given new powers to examine goods destined for export to prevent the movement of illegal and stolen products, including cars. The Liberals have worked to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump that Canada is doing enough to stem the southbound flow of drugs and migrants since he blamed fentanyl and irregular migration to justify tariffs on Canadian imports. The new bill will build on earlier Canadian measures, including round-the-clock surveillance of the border using helicopters, drones and surveillance towers. Ottawa is also working with Washington on a North American "joint strike force" to target organized crime groups that work across borders.
Global News
2 days ago
- General
- Global News
Feds set to introduce bill to enhance border security
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree is expected to introduce a bill today spelling out the federal government's next steps on border security. The recent throne speech promised legislation to bolster security at Canada's borders and new tools for police and intelligence agencies to help them stop the flow of deadly fentanyl and its precursors. The government also said the Canada Border Services Agency will be given new powers to examine goods destined for export to prevent the movement of illegal and stolen products, including cars. 2:04 Canadian government 'fact check' dismisses Trump's border security claims The Liberals have worked to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump that Canada is doing enough to stem the southbound flow of drugs and migrants since he blamed fentanyl and irregular migration to justify tariffs on Canadian imports. Story continues below advertisement The new bill will build on earlier Canadian measures, including round-the-clock surveillance of the border using helicopters, drones and surveillance towers. Ottawa is also working with Washington on a North American 'joint strike force' to target organized crime groups that work across borders
