SECU – Immigration Processing – In Canada– August 28, 2024

Key Facts and Figures

Between 2017 and 2023:

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) received:
  • Over 400,000 in-Canada asylum claims,
  • Almost 3.5M in-Canada permanent resident applications,
  • Close to 7M work and student permits (excluding extensions), and
  • Close to 2M citizenship grant applications (naturalization).
• Immigration processing volumes have significantly increased since 2017.

Key Messages

• The CBSA, IRCC, CSIS, RCMP, and others are part of a coordinated multi-department and agency approach to identify and assess any safety considerations and national security concerns within the immigration programs.
• 100% of in-Canada refugee claims are sent for comprehensive security screening to be completed by CBSA and CSIS; all citizenship applications (age 16 and over) are referred to CSIS for screening; all temporary and permanent resident applications are assessed for security, with some being referred for comprehensive security screening.
• The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is responsible for the investigation of and potential enforcement against foreign nationals in Canada who may be in contravention of the Immigration and Refugees Protection Act (IRPA), including asylum claimants and both temporary and permanent residents.
• Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) investigates all violent extremist activities within Canada, employing a suite of tools such as human source collection and threat reduction measures to ensure that actors who aspire to serious violence are not successful.
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has the responsibility to prevent and investigate offences that constitute a threat to the security of Canada and offences against internationally protected persons.
• Canadians can be confident that Canada's law enforcement and security agencies investigate and respond to potential threats. We will always take the necessary action to keep Canadians and those on Canadian soil safe.

Supplementary Information

Citizenship Revocation

• Citizenship grant applicants 16 years and older are referred to CSIS by IRCC for screening.
• Prior to the Oath of Citizenship ceremony, final checks are done to ensure there is no new adverse information that may prohibit the person from taking the Oath and becoming a Canadian citizen.
• Applicants are required to confirm, prior to taking the Oath, that they have not been subject to any criminal or immigration proceedings since they filed their application for Canadian citizenship.
• Should it be determined that a citizen was dishonest, committed fraud, or withheld important information, citizenship may be revoked.

If pressed on revocation of status:

• We cannot comment on the specifics of this case due to privacy considerations and because of the ongoing criminal proceedings.

Investigations of Foreign Nationals in Canada:

• When the CBSA becomes aware of situations where there are possible violations of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, including criminal convictions, the Agency investigates and takes the appropriate action as mandated by Canadian law.
• In addition to being found inadmissible and facing removal from Canada, foreign nationals and permanent residents may also be subject to other serious consequences, including criminal charges and convictions.

If pressed on removals

• Immigration regulations prescribe who has the authority to issue a removal order for specific inadmissibility grounds. Depending on the ground of inadmissibility, a delegated CBSA official or the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) considers whether the inadmissibility allegation is supported by evidence and whether to issue a removal order.
• CBSA is the enforcement arm of Canada’s immigration programs and is responsible for inland immigration enforcement and removals. Most removals and inadmissibility reports (A44 reports) are led by CBSA.
• IRCC may support the IRPA and CBSA through conducting interviews and verifications, writing A44 reports, and enforcing removal orders for certain grounds of inadmissibility.

Terrorism Investigations in Canada:

• At this time, specific details of the RCMP investigation cannot be disclosed due to the ongoing criminal proceedings.
• Canadians should know our law enforcement and security agencies work closely together to continually monitor potential threats, share appropriate information, track and disrupt activities of suspicious individuals, and work in close collaboration with local partners.