Canada saw a record-breaking spike in deportations, with figures hitting their highest point since 2015, new data reveals. In the period from January to November 2024, some 7,300 people were deported from the country, an 8.4% rise from the year before and a whopping 95% from 2022. The staggering increase mirrors both a hardening of immigration enforcement policy and increasing political pressures, both domestic and from its southern neighbour, the United States.
A Decade-High in Removals
The deportation numbers for 2024, according to Immigration News Canada (INC) reveal a trend not witnessed in close to a decade. Approximately 79% of the people deported were those whose refugee claims had been denied. This category of failed refugee claimants has been at the forefront of Canada’s immigration agenda as the government strives to eliminate backlog and implement tougher border policies. The rest of the deportees were people who overstayed visas or broke other immigration rules.
This rise is in direct contrast to the past years. In 2023, Canada deported fewer individuals, and in 2022, the figure was almost half of the current number. The steep increase mirrors a policy change by design, one that analysts say is the result of both domestic political pressure and international forces.
Political Pressures Behind the Surge
The heightened deportations coincide as Canada’s immigration system is facing heightened political attention. At home, debates regarding resource allocation, housing shortages, and economic strain have fostered calls for greater controls on immigrants. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is acting to respond to such pressures by ramping up enforcement to appease a growing open-border-skeptic public, critics argue.
Outside of Canada, the United States has also played an important role in this trend. As the U.S. demands increased border security—especially with the Trump administration’s mass deportations—Canada is ever more compelled to get on board. The two countries share a long history of immigration collaboration, and American pressure for increased restrictions may be compelling Canada to accelerate removals, particularly of individuals who are found to be inadmissible or a security risk.
Focus on Rejected Refugee Claimants
The data reveal that rejected refugee claimants constitute the majority of deportees, a number that reflects the deficiencies in Canada’s asylum system. Processing times for refugee applications have long been a subject of controversy, with waiting times regularly leaving claimants in limbo for years. Having rejected claims, the government has moved quickly to remove these individuals, a shift from drawn-out appeals to rapid action.
This priority has been contentious. Immigration advocates argue that many such claimants are fleeing desperate circumstances—violence, persecution, or economic collapse—and that returning them risks returning them to harm. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Quebec’s so-called “guardian angels,” thousands of asylum claimants who worked on the frontlines in healthcare, saw their applications for permanent residence denied. Stories such as that of Idriss Moussa Souni, a 29-year-old who faced deportation after years of service, have highlighted the human cost of such actions.
However, advocates for more vigorous enforcement argue that a successful deportation system is crucial to the integrity of Canada’s immigration system. They believe that permitting failed claimants to stay is contrary to legal channels and public confidence.
Financing and Future Prospects
In the future, the government of Canada appears to be looking to follow suit. It is set to increase funding for deportations through 2027, which suggests that removals will continue to be a priority. This investment would further streamline processes, potentially looking at not just failed claimants but also those with criminal records or visa violations.
Its broader repercussions are yet to be witnessed. As it balances its global image as an open nation with the demands of enforcement, Canada’s rising deportations raise inquiries regarding its immigration policy in the long term. Will there be a continued emphasis on removals, or will politics along with public opinion counter what is viewed by some as the country’s hardening of attitudes?
