Removals – Cases with Criminality

Date: February 9, 2021

Classification: Unclassified

Branch/Agency: IEB/CBSA

Proposed Response:

Background:

One of the Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) key mandated objectives is to protect the health and safety of Canadians and to maintain the security of Canadian society. These objectives are found in both the CBSA Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

The CBSA places the highest priority on cases involving national security, organized crime, crimes against humanity and criminals. Individuals believed to be inadmissible to Canada for safety and security reasons will have an inadmissibility report written against them. Depending on the particular inadmissibility, a decision as to whether or not to issue a removal order will be made by a reviewing officer acting under the delegated authority of the Minister, or by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). If there is sufficient evidence to support the inadmissibility allegation, a deportation order will be issued against the person concerned.

Not all inadmissibility reports result in a removal order. If the reviewing officer or the IRB determines that the evidence presented is not sufficient to support the allegation, a deportation order will not be issued. To ensure consistency in reporting on safety and security cases, the Agency reports on cases that have completed the entire process and are found inadmissible on safety and security grounds

It is important to note that the Agency closely monitors the progress of any cases flagged as having evidence on file that could potentially lead to a serious inadmissibility. If a removal order is issued, the agency will monitor the progress until all legal avenues of appeal and due process are exhausted, and commence removal preparations as quickly as possible. If a Foreign National is considered a danger to the public, they may be detained in immigration detention during the removal process.

Individuals subject to a deportation order for a serious inadmissibility may be eligible to a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) prior to removal. For those who are serving a term of imprisonment, the CBSA will initiate PRRA while the individual is serving their term of imprisonment to ensure that all due processes are completed before the term is completed. The removal may occur unescorted or under escort if it is required by the airline, the transit country or if the person poses a danger to the public or is a significant flight risk. Once removed, the deportation order bans the individual from Canada for life, unless they receive written permission to return to Canada.

Overall Removals Up to February 8, 2021*
Fiscal Years Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Total
Serious Inadmissibility Irregular Migrant Failed Refugee Claimant Refugee Claimants Other Inadmissibilities
2014/2015 1,200 N/A 6,704 4,029 11,933
2015/2016 969 N/A 4,106 3,617 8,692
2016/2017 879 N/A 4,182 2,937 7,998
2017/2018 903 139 4,033 3,137 8,212
2018/2019 931 436 4,633 3,698 9,698
2019/2020 1,026 548 6,318 3,644 11,536
2020/2021* 391 174 8,561 822 9,948
Total 6,299 1,297 38,537 21,884 68,017

* Serious inadmissibility cases represent 6% of the overall removal working inventory with 1,108 cases out of 18,818. Of these, 73 cases have no impediments to removal and are being scheduled for removal.

Chinese Nationals Removed to China Up to February 8, 2021*
Fiscal Years Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Total
Serious Inadmissibility Irregular Migrant Failed Refugee Claimant Refugee Claimants Other Inadmissibilities
2014/2015 30 N/A 244 198 472
2015/2016 29 N/A 213 255 497
2016/2017 21 N/A 179 206 406
2017/2018 36   136 173 345
2018/2019 23 5 159 243 430
2019/2020 24 8 206 194 432
2020/2021* 6   117 42 165
Total 169 13 1,254 1,311 2,747

* Serious inadmissibility cases represent 2% of the overall removal working inventory with 35 cases out of 1,866. Of these, 3 cases have no impediments to removal and are being scheduled for their removal.

Contacts:

Approved by: Scott Harris, Vice-President, Intelligence and Enforcement Branch

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