Canada to Spend Half a Billion Clearing Asylum Seekers Backlog

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Key Takeaways:

Canada faces a $500 million cost to clear a five-year backlog of asylum seekers, per the PBO report.
Reintroducing visa requirements for Mexicans aims to cut high asylum processing costs, averaging $16,500 per claim.
Asylum claims surged since lifting Mexican visas in 2016, leading to a 75% application increase in early 2024.

How Much Will It Cost to Clear Canada’s Asylum Seekers Backlog?

A recent report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) has highlighted a significant financial challenge facing Canada – clearing the backlog of asylum seekers. Over the past five years, processing these claims will cost an estimated $500 million. Immigration Minister Marc Miller commented that this financial burden “arguably shouldn’t have had to assume in the first place.”

Canada to Spend Half a Billion Clearing Asylum Seekers Backlog

What Are the Costs Associated with Asylum Claims?

The PBO report detailed the costs involved in processing asylum claims filed by individuals who entered Canada using an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Unlike traditional visas, an eTA is significantly easier and faster to obtain. It requires a $7 fee and is completed online, with most applications being approved within minutes.

According to the PBO, the federal government has spent approximately $455 million processing these claims so far. The average cost per claim is $16,500, but costs can range anywhere from $9,055 to $40,814.

“A great number of those costs are associated with Mexico [asylum claims],” says Minister Miller.

Why Was a Visa Requirement Reintroduced for Mexican Nationals?

In an attempt to reduce the asylum claims costs, the federal government reintroduced the visa requirement for Mexican nationals last February. Asylum claims from Mexico reached a record high last year, but more than 60% of these claims were either rejected or withdrawn.

“What we found with the Mexican claimants is that a big chunk were not entitled to it, and that is a charge on the system that arguably we shouldn’t have had to assume in the first place,” said Miller at a news conference in Montreal. Reintroducing the visa requirement was seen as a necessary step to control the increasing costs.

What Impact Does the Electronic Travel Authorization Have on Asylum Claims?

The eTA system has contributed to a significant increase in asylum claims. According to the PBO report, asylum claimants entering Canada with an eTA form the fastest-growing group compared to those with traditional visas. The PBO suggests that the reinstatement of visa requirements will likely reduce future costs.

“Given that asylum claimants whose country of alleged prosecution is Mexico are the largest portion of recent asylum claims, this could significantly impact future processing times, as well as the backlog, and therefore affect the per-claimant cost.”

How Have Visa Policies Changed Over Time?

In 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lifted the visa requirement for Mexican nationals visiting Canada, a decision that some experts now view as a mistake. Chris Alexander, a former immigration minister, stated in an interview that the professional advice at the time was against lifting the visa requirement.

“The criteria we had set as a country for lifting visa requirements were against it,” Alexander mentioned.

How Has the Number of Asylum Claims Changed Since 2016?

The PBO report only focused on the eTA stream, which accounts for 17% of all asylum claims. However, the overall number of asylum claims has been increasing since 2016, reaching a record high of 144,860 last year.

The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), which handles these cases, has seen a 75% increase in applications during the first four months of 2024 compared to the same period last year. This exponential increase has many concerned about the system’s capacity to manage the rising numbers.

What Are the Proposed Solutions to Address the Backlog?

To tackle the backlog of asylum seekers, the Liberal government has set aside nearly $750 million. However, immigration and refugee lawyer Robert Israel Blanshay urges more specific measures.

“There could be an expedited stream to use. And I do think the Immigration and Refugee Board is looking at ways to do that,” Blanshay noted. However, he remains uncertain about how close the IRB is to finding a solution.

What Steps Can Be Taken to Improve Efficiency?

For those interested in the Canadian asylum process, visiting the official Immigration and Citizenship page can offer more detailed information and updates. By streamlining the application process and using technology to handle claims more efficiently, Canada could potentially reduce processing times and costs.

Conclusion

Clearing the backlog of asylum seekers in Canada is a significant challenge, requiring both substantial financial investment and strategic changes to immigration policies. As authorities work to address these issues, continued reassessment and adaptation will be crucial to managing costs and ensuring a fair and efficient process for asylum seekers.

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Glossary of Immigration Terms

Asylum Seeker: An individual who enters a foreign country seeking protection due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country, but whose claim for refugee status has not yet been determined.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): A quick and inexpensive online entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals traveling to Canada by air. It costs $7 and is generally approved within minutes.
Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB): The administrative tribunal in Canada responsible for making decisions on immigration and refugee matters, including asylum claims.
Visa Requirement Reintroduction: The act of reinstating a visa mandate for nationals of a specific country to regulate and control the number of asylum claims and associated costs, as exemplified by Canada’s policy shift for Mexican nationals.
Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO): An independent officer of the Canadian Parliament who provides analysis on budgetary issues and the financial cost of proposed policies, including immigration-related expenditures.

This Article In A Nutshell:

Clearing Canada’s asylum seekers backlog will cost an estimated $500 million, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer. With asylum claims increasing, the reintroduction of visa requirements for Mexican nationals aims to control expenses. Streamlined processes and technology are essential for improving efficiency and managing future costs.
— By VisaVerge.com

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