Airport asylum claims to overwhelm the Canadian refugee system

Data from Canada’s Immigration Refugee Board shows about 72,000 refugee claims at Canadian airports from 2019-2023, with significant increases at Montreal Trudeau International and Toronto’s Pearson Airports. As the Canada Border Services Agency reveals, the government struggles with case processing and removal of rejected claims. Over 28,000 active warrants were issued last month to failed refugee claimants. Deportation of those deemed inadmissible on national security grounds remains a challenge. The closure of Roxham Road, an unofficial border crossing, contributed to this increase. After its closure, there was a surge in claims at Montreal’s airport, primarily by Mexican nationals. Many claimants wait years for resolution due to application backlogs. Ottawa re-imposed a visa requirement for Mexican nationals to control growing asylum claims, most of which are being rejected.