Canada has seen a sharp rise in deportations, reaching the highest number since 2015.
Nearly 7,300 people were removed from the country by November 19, 2024, marking an 8.4% increase compared to the previous year, reports Reuters.
This surge comes as the Canadian government works to address a growing backlog of refugee claims and a rising number of foreign nationals awaiting removal.
As cited by Immigration News Canada (INC), data obtained by our correspondent, 7,300 individuals were deported from Canada between January and November 2024.
This, according to reports, represents an increase from 2023 and a notable jump from 2022, with a 95% rise in removals compared to two years ago.
Canada Border Services Agency is yet to release full-year statistics, but the trend suggests higher deportation numbers by year-end.
As of December 2024, 485,359 individuals were flagged for potential removal, including 120,273 in Ontario, 197,029 in Quebec, and 123,000 unassigned to a specific region.
The majority of deportations, around 79%, were directed at failed refugee claimants. This marks an increase from 75% in 2023 and 66% in 2022, indicating a shift in enforcement priorities.
Other individuals were deported for overstaying visas or violating terms of stay (11%), or due to criminal convictions (7%).
