The federal government is looking to gain the authority to invalidate visa applications for groups of visa holders, citing concerns about fraudulent activities originating from India and Bangladesh as per internal documents obtained by CBC News. A presentation to the immigration minister’s office outlined that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and undisclosed U.S. partners are collaborating to detect and annul fraudulent visitor visa applications.
A joint effort between Canadian entities and U.S. partners aims to enhance the ability to reject and revoke visas, with a specific focus on addressing challenges posed by India and Bangladesh. The presentation highlighted potential scenarios for utilizing mass cancellation powers, including situations like pandemics, wars, and visa holders from specific countries.
While Immigration Minister Lena Diab publicly mentioned reasons such as pandemics and wars for seeking these powers, she did not explicitly reference country-specific visa holders. The presentation sheds light on Ottawa’s rationale for pursuing mass cancellation powers.
The proposal was introduced in Parliament under Bill C-2, a comprehensive border legislation that has since been divided into separate bills, with mass visa cancellation incorporated into C-12, which the government aims to swiftly pass. Concerns have been raised by over 300 civil society groups regarding the legislation, with some, like the Migrant Rights Network, expressing apprehensions about the potential establishment of a “mass deportation machine.”
Speculation among immigration lawyers has emerged about whether the mass cancellation authority is being sought to manage the increasing backlog of applications within the federal government. The presentation disclosed a surge in asylum claims from Indian nationals, with a notable rise in processing times and a decline in approvals due to heightened verification processes.
Moreover, a rise in “no boards” cases in India was identified, leading to further scrutiny and procedural actions. The document did not provide data on claims from Bangladesh. IRCC clarified that the new powers were not proposed with specific groups or scenarios in mind and emphasized the importance of adhering to procedural fairness in decision-making processes.
The department underscored that additional visa cancellation powers are essential for enhancing security measures and preventing misuse of temporary resident documents. Efforts have been made to reduce illegal border crossings by foreign nationals, resulting in a significant drop in such activities. Enhancements in scrutiny of visa applications from countries with high abuse rates have led to a decline in asylum claims and an increase in visa refusals for fraudulent activities.
While seeking these powers, the federal government is concurrently working on repairing relations with India, following tensions that arose in 2023. Recent diplomatic engagements between Canada and India indicate efforts to revive bilateral ties. The impact of the proposed powers on the relationship between the two countries remains an open question, with Global Affairs yet to provide insights on the matter.