A new bill would now rein in asylum claims, i.e., many foreign nationals will become ineligible to apply for asylum in Canada, should a newly-tabled bill become law.
Under the new bill, a foreign national would be ineligible to claim refugee protection if they entered Canada after June 4, 2020, and make the claim more than one year after the day of entry.
The bill would also make ineligible foreign nationals who entered Canada along the Canada-US land border outside the port of entry. Under the current legislation, foreign nationals are not ineligible for claiming refugee status on account of having crossed irregularly from the US, provided that they make their claim at least 14 days after having entered Canada.
Refugee claims made prior to the introduction of the bill are exempt from these two new restrictions to eligibility, which, if the bill becomes law, will apply retroactively to claims made after the bill’s introduction.
The bill would also provide the Governor in Council with sweeping powers that they can exercise if they believe it is in the public interest, including abilities to:
- Make an order for certain immigration applications not to be accepted for processing
- Issue an order to suspend or terminate the processing of certain applications.
- Cancel, suspend, or vary immigration documents, or to impose or vary conditions on these documents
The bill would also provoke an increased scope of powers in requesting individuals to appear for examination before immigration officials.
In addition, the bill also proposes amendments to allow for increased disclosure of individual’s personal information to other government departments.
The bill, ‘Bill C-2, An act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures’, entered its first reading on June 3, 2025.
Bills become law after passing three readings in Parliament and the Senate, followed by receiving royal assent.
Explore your pathway to move to Canada with Immigtoronto. Our team of skilled RCICs offers customized immigration solutions, ensuring a trustworthy and professional process. Contact us at [email protected].
