Canada's federal government has proposed immigration reforms, part of Bill C-2 (Strong Borders Act), that would restrict some asylum seekers' access to formal refugee hearings. Key changes include barring access for those who don't claim asylum within a year of entry (retroactive to June 2020) and eliminating an exemption in the Safe Third Country Agreement. Critics argue these measures undermine legal commitments, create inefficiencies, and could drive undocumented migration and exploitation.
Ottawa’s proposed immigration reforms will restrict asylum seekers access to hearings
Canada
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Canada's federal government has proposed immigration reforms, part of Bill C-2 (Strong Borders Act), that would restrict some asylum seekers' access to formal refugee hearings. Key changes include barring access for those who don't claim asylum within a year of entry (retroactive to June 2020) and eliminating an exemption in the Safe Third Country Agreement. Critics argue these measures undermine legal commitments, create inefficiencies, and could drive undocumented migration and exploitation.
Trending- 1 June 2020: Retroactive date for the one-year asylum claim deadline.
- 2 Recently: Federal government proposes immigration reforms as part of Bill C-2 (Strong Borders Act).
- Restricted access to formal refugee hearings for some asylum seekers
- Potential increase in undocumented migration and exploitation
- Lower level of protection for asylum seekers undergoing PRRA
- Concerns about government overreach and lack of checks and balances
- Possible longer wait times for pre-removal risk assessments
What: The Canadian federal government's proposed immigration reforms, part of Bill C-2 (Strong Borders Act), will restrict some asylum seekers' access to formal refugee hearings.
When: Proposed recently (implied early June 2025); Retroactive to June 2020.
Where: Canada.
Why: To tackle 'rising migration pressures,' improve border security, make Canada’s asylum system more 'resilient,' and address backlogs. Also, to navigate pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding border security. Critics argue it's government overreach and will create more problems.
How: The reforms include barring access to the refugee determination system for those who fail to make a claim within a year of entry (retroactive to June 2020) and eliminating the 14-day undetected crossing exemption in the Safe Third Country Agreement. Instead, these individuals would receive a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA).