Temporary public policy for the resettlement of certain Afghan nationals selected by the minister of IRCC under Operation Afghan Safety

The complete withdrawal of international forces has created significant risks with respect to security in Afghanistan. Security concerns in Afghanistan are increasing as the Taliban reassert their political influence, as well as their control over border crossings, making it difficult for individuals to leave. Allied partners as well as special interest groups are attempting to facilitate the resettlement of vulnerable Afghans including women, children, members of the LGBTI community and individuals associated with allied forces from within and outside the country.

The Temporary Public Policy for the Resettlement of Certain Afghan Nationals Identified by the Minister of IRCC under Operation Afghan Safety recognizes the high vulnerability and elevated risk faced by certain Afghans, as well as their accompanying family members, as specified below. These aforementioned groups are at higher risk of violence inside Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s ideology regarding gender roles, religious and ethnic minorities, sexual orientation gender identification and expression, advocacy work and individuals associated with allied forces. Risks to these individuals include execution, torture, imprisonment as well as ongoing harassment.

Numerous media reports have highlighted the explicit risk to women and their families who are or have been present in the workforce or who have participated in education, journalism and/or sports over the past 20 years. Those most at risk are those who are immediately identifiable in these areas including the [Redacted], prominent female journalists, including those from ethnic minority communities, and those associated with high profile women’s organizations like the [Redacted].

The Temporary Public Policy recognizes the chaotic situation at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) in the final days of Allied forces operating from Kabul, and the exigent circumstances on the ground which led to IRCC’s facilitation of the departure of at-risk persons where their departure was deemed feasible, and with the recognition that doing so would require deviation from normal assessments and document issuance processes.

The Temporary Public Policy also recognizes that some individuals were not able to access Allied flights. As such, this temporary public policy will facilitate the immigration of individuals who did not access Allied flights and were identified by me, the Minister of IRCC, and any eligible immediate family members, as members of the Convention Refugee Abroad Class of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (“the Regulations”).

Afghan nationals benefiting from this public policy:

In light of the foregoing, I hereby determine that the following foreign nationals are exempted from all of the eligibility requirements of the Convention Refugee Abroad class:

1. Afghan nationals included on a list (“the List A”) which is comprised of individuals who are associated with the following groups or individuals:

• Women leaders and persecuted religious minorities: [Redacted]
• Women leaders and human rights advocates: [Redacted]
• Female journalists: [Redacted]
• Vulnerable women and girls: [Redacted]
• Persecuted religious minorities: Afghan Sikhs
• Persecuted ethnic minorities: Hazara family at risk

Other statutory admissibility requirements:

Foreign nationals eligible under this public policy are subject to all applicable admissibility requirements, including the requirement not to be inadmissible on criminal, security and health grounds as well as for all accompanying family members to not be inadmissible.

Applicants intending to reside in Quebec are subject to the Province of Quebec’s selection criteria further to subsection 70(3) of the Regulations, and cannot be granted permanent residence unless Quebec determines that they meet such criteria.

Appendix to the temporary public policy for the resettlement of certain Afghan nationals selected by the minister of IRCC under Operation Afghan Safety

I hereby amend “the Temporary Public Policy for the Resettlement of Certain Afghan Nationals Selected by the Minister of IRCC under Operation Afghan Safety” signed on October 9, 2021, to clarify that this public policy is to benefit only people named in List A of the public policy.

Therefore, the fifth paragraph under the public policy considerations of this public policy is replaced with the following:

The Temporary Public Policy also recognizes that some individuals were not able to access Allied flights. This temporary public policy will facilitate the immigration of individuals identified by me, the Minister of IRCC, as members of the Convention Refugee Abroad Class of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (“the Regulations”).