Author: Azadeh Haidari-Garmash, RCIC
Between the start of January and the end of September 2024, Canada witnessed a dramatic upsurge in asylum requests, totalling 132,525, a significant contrast to previous years' statistics.
It's worth mentioning that 84,645 of these requests were filed by foreign individuals who were already residing in the country, with the remaining applications arriving from those seeking refuge at entry points.
The upward shift can be attributed largely to the growing number of international students resorting to the asylum system. The number of applications under study permits soared to 15,160, surpassing the total of 13,080 for the entire previous year.
In response to this trend, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has intensified its inland enforcement operations, boosting the cadre of officers by 15% since January 2023.
Correspondingly, the agency has seen a significant rise in the issuance of removal orders for foreign nationals deemed inadmissible, projecting a 60% increase in removals in the current fiscal year compared to the period of 2021-22.
The majority of these removals are due to violations of immigration regulations, such as visa overstays or unauthorized employment.
Projections for 2025 indicate that the number of temporary residents is likely to decline to 2.52 million from the current figure of 2.96 million.
The Canadian immigration system is presently at a critical juncture. While immediate concerns may be addressed by tightening regulations and reducing intake quotas, enduring solutions demand a more holistic approach.
Policy developers must find a middle ground between embracing newcomers and tackling public apprehensions related to affordability and infrastructure.
By channeling resources into more intelligent policies and humanistic strategies, Canada has the potential to preserve its status as a beacon of opportunity, while effectively navigating the complexities of a rapidly evolving immigration landscape.
