PACP – Key Facts & Figures - Nov 24, 2020

Asylum key facts and figures as of October 31, 2020

2020 Intake

• Between January 1 and October 31, 2020, total asylum claims decreased by 59% when compared to the same period last year.
• Canada received 21,388 asylum claims between January 1 and October 31, 2020 compared to 52,746 the same period last year.

COVID-19 - Between March 17, 2020 and October 31, 2020

• Since March 17, 2020 9,976 claims have been received of which 7,858 were by E-mail or Drop-box.
• 1,243 land border claims have been made since border restrictions with the US came into force on March 21, 2020 (OIC5).
• 1,234 land border claims were made since the implementation of OIC12 on April 22, 2020 and 774 were admitted under exceptions to the Safe Third Country Agreement.
• On July 22, 2020, the Federal Court ruled that the STCA violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The federal government was given 6 months from the date of the decision to respond. Since the date of this decision, 98 claims have been determined to be ineligible under the STCA.
• 200 asylum seekers were directed back to the U.S. [Unofficial Numbers as of November 1]

2019 Intake

• Canada received 64,193 asylum claims in 2019 compared to 55,186 in 2018.
• Overall asylum claims increased by 16% asylum claims in 2019.

2018 Intake

• Canada received 55,186 asylum claims in 2018 compared to 50,905 in 2017.
• Overall asylum claims increased by 8% asylum claims in 2018.

Safe Third Country Agreement ^{Footnote *}

• Between January 1 and October 31, 2020, there were 292 STCA refusals, a 49% decrease to the number of STCA refusals when compared to the same period last year (567).
• In 2019, there were 652 asylum claims determined to be ineligible under the STCA; a 9% decrease when contrasted with the same reporting period in 2018 (720).
• In 2018, there were 720 asylum claims determined to be ineligible under the STCA; a 63%decrease when contrasted with the same reporting period in 2017 (1,933).
• The Safe Third County Agreement applies solely to Regular Land Border Asylum Claims.

Quebec Secondary Migration

• Of the irregular asylum claims made in Quebec from April 1, 2017 to October 31, 2020 that are pending at the Immigration and Refugee Board, 53% of claimants continue to reside in Quebec while their claim is being processed while 43% have moved to Ontario.

Top 15 Citizenship - Asylum Claims Received

Top 5 Citizenships - Asylum Claims Received For Irregular

Asylum Claims by Nationality

Regular Asylum Claims by Nationality - Mode of Entry ^{Footnote ***}

Top 5 Citizenships for all Asylum Claims in 2020 (January 1 to October 31, 2020) by Mode of Entry

RCMP Interceptions

Visa Lift key Facts and Figures

Romania

• 2,333 asylum claims received since the visa-lift (Dec 2017 to Oct 2020).
• Highest volume of asylum claims occurred in January 2018 with 281 claims.
• Yearly eTA refusal rates have remained at or below 5%.

Mexico

• Between January 1, 2020 and Oct 2020, there were 2,667 Mexican asylum claims representing a 48% decrease compared to the same period last year.
• Highest volume of asylum claims occurred in September 2019 with 787 claims.
• Yearly eTA refusal rates have remained at or below 7%.

Bulgaria

• 160 asylum claims received since the visa-lift (Dec 2017 to Oct 2020).
• Highest volume of asylum claims occurred in November 2018 with 18 claims.
• Yearly eTA refusal rates have remained at or below 3%.

Asylum Key Facts and Figures