Canada passed a new law on March 26 (local time) that makes it harder for some foreign nationals to get an asylum hearing if they’ve lived in the country for more than a year. The move, which critics warn could lead to genuine refugees being sent back to dangerous situations, the Globe and Mail reported.
Bill C-12 is “An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada’s borders and the integrity of Canada’s immigration system, and respecting other related security measures.
Last month, Canada’s Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said changes to the Immigration and Borders Act, also known as Bill C-12, were aimed in part at addressing the rise in abuse of the country’s asylum system.
Here’s what would change under Bill C-12:
Under Bill C-12, all people who apply for asylum after living in Canada for more than a year would face expedited deportation and would no longer be eligible for an asylum hearing at the Immigration and Refugee Board, the independent tribunal responsible for hearing refugee claims. This will also include international students. However, these people could apply for a risk assessment by an immigration officer before being deported.
The new law also allows the federal government to cancel, change or suspend a large number of immigration documents at once, including visas.
According to the immigration minister, the bill would give the federal government new power to tackle fraud. In addition, it would allow the federal government to share immigration information with the provinces, including details regarding naturalized Canadian citizens born outside Canada and permanent residents. It will also allow provincial and territorial governments to share information about immigration department clients with foreign organizations, but only with the department’s written consent.
Indians will be affected the most?
A Times of India report suggests that Bill C-12 is likely to affect Indians the most because New Delhi is Canada’s largest source country of skilled workers among immigration categories. According to official data, there were over 500,000 Indians studying in Canada in 2024, making up roughly 40% of the total international student population.
Canada sees an increase in asylum applications
The development comes after the country has seen a surge in asylum applications, particularly from international students who have borne the brunt of immigration restrictions in recent years. This includes those who face deportation because their study permit to stay in the country is running out. According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, about 17 percent of asylum applications last year came from students.
Human rights group condemns Bill C-12
According to Al Jazeera, human rights groups in Canada have condemned the bill, which they say “represents a significant attack on the rights of refugees and migrants” in the country. More than two dozen organizations warned in a statement on Friday that the newly passed law is expected to put thousands of people “at risk of persecution, violence and precarious situations”.
According to the Times of India, the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) also flagged serious reservations about the law, noting that the federal government will have the power to cancel immigration documents or stop applications whenever it deems it to be in the “public interest”, a term not defined in the law.
