CIMM – The Situation in Iran and Support for Iranian Refugees – November 29, 2022
Key Messages
The Government of Canada is deeply concerned about the people affected by the situation in Iran. We are actively monitoring the situation to assess how Canada can assist.
Iranian nationals have a variety of immigration pathways available to them. The refugee resettlement program is designed to offer protection to the world’s most vulnerable.
Individuals who have fled their home country and have no other durable solution may be referred to Canada for resettlement by the UNHCR or identified by private sponsors.
All eligible asylum claimants are referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board, an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal, where the claim is decided on its merits.
Supplementary Messages
Refugee Resettlement Program
Persecuted people located outside their home country qualify as refugees under the Refugee Convention, and this requirement is mirrored in Canada’s Resettlement Program.
Refugees must be referred to IRCC by a referral organization, e.g. the UNHCR, or identified by private sponsors.
Refugees who face immediate risks may be resettled under Canada’s Urgent Protection Program through a referral by United Nations Refugee Agency. It provides expedited resettlement to those whose life, liberty, or safety are at risk.
If Pressed On Resettlement From Iran
Canada does not have a humanitarian immigration program dedicated to resettling people from within their home country, and current regulatory authorities do not provide for such a program.
Special targeted measures can be put in place through public policies and work best with the support of the source country.
In the absence of such support, measures put forth could be interpreted as an infringement of sovereignty and carry serious risks to applicants, to Canadian and locally engaged staff.
If Pressed On Other Facilitation For Iranians
The government of Canada has already taken strong measures by designating the Iranian regime and we continue to support the brave women and men who are protesting against the violence against Iranian people. We continue to monitor the situation and review if additional measures are required.
Human Rights Defenders
Canada's refugee resettlement program already offers protection to those who have fled their home countries, as referred by the UNHCR, including human rights defenders.
In 2021, Canada introduced a new dedicated refugee stream for human rights defenders at risk. It allows for the resettlement of up to 250 human rights defenders annually.
Under this stream, human rights defenders at risk will continue to be identified by the United Nations Refugee Agency, as well as new, trusted and authorized referral partners.
Supporting Facts And Figures
Overseas refugee resettlement applications by Intake Year for Clients with Country of Citizenship Iran between January 1, 2017 and October 31, 2022
Year and resettlement application decision
Approved
Not Eligible
On Inventory
Refused
Withdrawn
Number of resettlement applications received
2017
158
1
17
10
186
2018
341
4
41
8
394
2019
420
44
221
12
697
2020
394
2
106
138
12
652
2021
193
452
39
19
703
2022
21
123
144
Grand Total
1527
2
730
456
61
2776
Asylum Claims by Year for Claimants from Country of Citizenship Iran (January 1, 2017 – October 31, 2022)
Claim Year
Number of Asylum Claims
2017
686
2018
2,523
2019
5,621
2020
2,519
2021
1,973
2022
3,643
Background
Refugee Resettlement
Iranian nationals who have fled the Islamic Republic of Iran due to persecution and have no other durable solution can be referred to Canada for resettlement by the UNHCR, or identified by a private sponsor in Canada.
Only people who have fled their country qualify as refugees. In keeping with the Refugee Convention and international practices, Canada’s refugee resettlement program is available to people located outside of their country. Decision are made on a case-by-case basis and are based on the specific facts presented by each person.
At this time, there are no special measures in place permitting the resettlement of Iranian refugees.
Canada does not have a humanitarian immigration class dedicated to resettling people at risk from within their country. However, special temporary and targeted measures can be considered, where conditions are favourable, through the use of public policies. For instance, in 2017, with the awareness and support of the Iraqi government, the Government of Canada undertook an exceptional resettlement effort for survivors of Daesh from within their home country of Iraq.
Canada reserves space for the resettlement of refugees facing immediate threats to their life, liberty or physical safety. The Urgent Protection Program ensures that Canada is able to respond to urgent requests from the UNHCR for the resettlement of refugees who are under threat of being killed, returned home, or of being subjected to violence, torture, sexual assault or arbitrary imprisonment
Asylum
Foreign nationals from the Islamic Republic of Iran who are in Canada and who believe they may be at risk of persecution or torture in their home country can seek asylum in Canada. All eligible asylum claims are decided based on the individual merits and evidence presented to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), an independent administrative tribunal.
The IRB is constantly evaluating conditions in asylum-seeker-producing countries and is updating research material to include the latest developments in Iran and ensure that decision makers have access to the most recent information.
Canada’s Response To Iran’s Human Rights Violations
On September 23, 2022, Canada strongly condemned the reprehensible detention and apparent killing of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish-Iranian woman who died while in custody of Iran’s Morality Police. Ms. Amini’s death was a direct result of the systemic harassment and repression that women face in Iran. Canada further condemned Iran’s violent crackdown against civilian protestors and its use of force against its own citizens.
Iran remains impervious to widespread appeals from Canada and the international community to respect the human rights of its citizenry and to fulfil its international human rights obligations.
On September 26, 2022, Prime Minister Trudeau announced Canada’s intention to impose sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities – including the country’s Morality Police – and its leadership.
Measures Against The Government Of The Islamic Republic Of Iran, Including Designation Of The Regime
On October 7, 2022, the Prime Minister announced that the Government of Canada is exploring measures against the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran under provisions in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, including designation of the regime. Should that step be taken, senior government officials from the designated regime, including those from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, would be inadmissible to Canada.
On October 3, 2022, the Government of Canada imposed new sanctions on Iran in response to gross human rights violations that have been committed in Iran (including its systematic persecution of women and, in particular, the egregious actions committed by Iran’s so-called Morality Police, which led to the death of Mahsa Amini while under their custody).
The sanctions were imposed on 25 individuals and 9 entities, including senior Iranian officials and prominent entities that directly implement repressive measures, violate human rights, and spread the Iranian regime’s propaganda and misinformation.
On October 11, 2022, Canada further amended the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations to list an additional 17 individuals and three entities in relation to Iran’s gross and systematic violations of human rights, ongoing grave breach of international peace and security and continued state-sponsored disinformation activities.
On October 19, 2022, Canada further amended the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations to list an additional six individuals and four entities in relation to Iran’s gross and systematic violations of human rights, ongoing grave breach of international peace and security and continued state-sponsored disinformation activities.
On October 28, 2022, Canada further amended the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations to list an additional four individuals and two entities in relation to Iran’s gross and systematic violations of human rights, ongoing grave breach of international peace and security and continued state-sponsored disinformation activities.
On November 14, the Minister of Public Safety announced that Canada designated the Islamic Republic of Iran as a regime that has engaged in terrorism and systematic and gross human rights violations. This means senior members of the Iranian regime, including many members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, are now inadmissible to Canada.
The designation of the Iranian regime is pursuant to subparagraph 35(1)(b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and applies to those who were senior officials at any time from November 15, 2019, onwards.
Public Safety Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency are leading on a comprehensive communications package giving more details on the measures.
The regime’s designation renders senior officials of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran inadmissible. This includes heads of state, members of the Cabinet, ambassadors, senior diplomats, members of the judiciary, senior military and intelligence officials, and senior public servants.
Iranian nationals sanctioned under the Special Economic Measures Act on grounds of gross human rights violations are inadmissible to Canada.
Should Bill S-8 be passed by Parliament, individuals sanctioned under the Special Economic Measures Act for grave breach of international peace and security would also be inadmissible to Canada, which would strengthen IRCC’s ability to prevent entry to Iranian individuals subject to sanctions.
