Foreign nationals | Increase in expulsions, drop in asylum requests

Removals of foreign nationals jumped in 2025: from January to October, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) expelled 19,000 people, an increase of 36% compared to the same period in 2024.

Among the referrals executed this year, 841 cases fell into the category of “serious” cases: national security, war crimes, human rights violations, organized crime and criminality. The rest of the expulsions were for reasons linked to migration status and the application of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Of the 19,000 removals, 4,823 people were returned to the United States.

For all people expelled by Canada, Mexico, India and Haiti are the most represented countries of citizenship. Colombia, Romania, the United States and Venezuela follow.

An expulsion order is enforceable as soon as all remedies have been used and no suspension is in effect.

Decline in asylum applications

Meanwhile, in Quebec, asylum applications plunged by 30%.

Between January and November, the CBSA processed 20,752 asylum applications, compared to 29,668 applications during the same period last year.

This decline does not, however, reflect the entire asylum system, since applications are instead evaluated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

According to the most recent data, as of September 25, 31,875 requests had been processed in Quebec, compared to 45,530 on the same date, a year earlier, a drop of 30%.

Across Canada, 89,380 requests were recorded, compared to 132,455 the previous year, a drop of 32.5%.

An isolated case

In terms of irregular entries, there is no sign of an increase, assures Miguel Bégin, director of the Eastern border district.

“In terms of illegal entries, there is no current trend that shows an increase,” he told The Press.

The case of the 44 migrants discovered in a cube truck without ventilation in Stanstead in August remains, according to him, an isolated case¹.

“It was indeed a network of smugglers which had recruited all these people, who had paid to enter Canada. Almost all of them were returned to the United States. If there are any who stayed, there really aren’t many. It’s really very, very minimal compared to the entire group. We are probably talking about less than 5 people out of the group of 44 people. »

Fewer travelers

Between January and October, the CBSA welcomed just over 70 million travelers, compared to 80.5 million in 2024, a drop of 12% in all categories: Canadians, tourists, temporary immigrants.

“We have observed a decrease in the number of travelers this year, especially Canadian travelers. We followed the evolution, especially in the summer period, because that’s where we have our largest volumes,” explains Mr. Bégin.

American travelers have declined by around 5%, he says.

Imposing seizures

Seizures remain impressive: 13,500 weapons, including more than 740 firearms (650 from the United States), as well as 30,791 kg of illicit drugs. The CBSA also prevented the export of 1,327 stolen vehicles.

“The majority of stolen cars were intercepted at the port of Montreal. The vast majority was recovered there,” says Mr. Bégin.

In 2025, the CBSA had 16,500 employees across the country, including more than 8,500 front-line officers. The most recent federal budget authorized the hiring of 1,000 additional border agents. “This will allow us to add agents in higher volume locations, where there are more travelers,” he concludes.

With the collaboration of Pierre-André Normandin, The Press