CIMM – Irregular Southbound Migration – February 7, 2024

Key Facts And Figures

• Since 2022, there has been a steady rise of individuals attempting to cross into the United States (U.S.) by land from Canada, between official ports of entry. Many of these individuals are apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
• Southbound apprehensions reported by CBP during the third quarter of 2022 were 499, compared to 2,987 apprehensions during the third quarter of 2023 (499% more).
  • Of the 2,987 apprehensions, approximately 2,684 (90%) had prior Canadian immigration history, including electronic travel authorization (eTA) (1,671; 62%), temporary resident visa (524; 20%), refugee claim (213; 8%), study permit (157; 6%), work permit (109; 4%), and others (<1%).
• A total of 6,827 apprehensions were made from January to September 2023.
  • Roughly 43% of these interceptions were foreign nationals in Canada on an ETA, and of those, nearly all were Mexican nationals.
  • The top source country overall for southbound movement was Mexico, followed by India and Venezuela.

Jan 2023 – Sept 2023: Total Apprehensions vs Apprehensions with ETA

• Many, if not the majority, of those who attempt to clandestinely move south across the U.S.-Canada land border, likely utilize human smugglers or human smuggling networks to do so.
  • Human smugglers charge thousands of dollars for their services, and individuals are at risk of debt-bondage or exploitation by the smugglers if they are unable to pay (this could lead to human trafficking conditions).
• Canadian winters also pose hazardous conditions for migrants, who utilize various methods to enter the U.S.

Mexican Movement

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• Canada has adopted additional screening measures for higher-risk ETA clients, such as automated information sharing with the U.S., in order to support decision-making. [Redaction].

Border Management

• Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are responsible for land border management. The current division of responsibilities has CBSA responsible for official ports of entry, and the RCMP responsible for between the ports (BTP); however, it is unclear if the focus is on both north and south-bound BTP movement, or only north-bound entries.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) works closely with CBSA on migration issues, including irregular southbound movements.
• Canada also works closely with the U.S. in addressing these shared challenges.

Key Messages

• Addressing irregular southbound migration is a priority for Canada, and we are monitoring it closely with the U.S. We remain committed to protecting the safety of Canadians, the confidence in our immigration system, and the integrity of our shared land border.
• Stopping this movement also protects the individuals themselves who are attempting to move clandestinely across the Canada-U.S. border. Attempting to do so through some of the harshest weather conditions, and being exploited by human smugglers charging thousands of dollars, puts them in a very vulnerable and dangerous situation.
• IRCC is always analyzing data, information, and intelligence to identify southbound irregular migration trends, in an effort to detect, disrupt, deter, and prevent individuals and facilitators from participating in human smuggling, human trafficking, and/or illegal BTP movements.
• The Department conducts administrative investigations in an effort to identify facilitators and individuals tied to human smuggling and/or human trafficking in all areas of migration, including those associated with irregular southbound migration.
• Where particularly serious information may come to IRCC’s attention, it is shared with law enforcement partners who are able to pursue criminal investigations when warranted.
• A strong and integrated Canada-U.S. border is vital – it supports personal connections, the security of both countries, and one of the largest trading relationships in the world.

Supplementary Information

If pressed on irregular southbound migration from Mexico:

• Since the visa requirement was lifted on December 1, 2016, Canada has welcomed over 2.3M visitors from Mexico; this benefits our economy, our culture, and our people-to-people ties.
• Lifting the visa requirement for Mexico in 2016 has generated considerable cultural and economic benefits for Canada. At the same time, it has also generated challenges, such as a significant increase in non-genuine asylum claims, and on our U.S. partners in the form of irregular southbound migration. We are currently evaluating the sustainability of the visa lift.
• Canada remains concerned with the ever growing volume of Mexican southbound apprehensions. We continue working with Mexican officials to deter abuse of visa-free travel.
• Canada works to preserve the integrity of its immigration system by establishing fair and efficient procedures that maintain the integrity of Canada’s borders.