On December 17, 2024, Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, announced major changes to Canada’s immigration system. These updates aim to make the process fairer, more secure, and more efficient while tackling important issues like border challenges and immigration fraud.
Here’s a simple breakdown of the announcements and what they mean.
1. Ending ‘Flagpoling’ for a Smoother Process
The government has decided to stop ‘flagpoling, ‘ in which temporary residents leave Canada and re-enter through a border crossing to get faster immigration services.
Minister Miller explained that this practice causes delays at the border, disrupts traffic, and uses up resources meant for enforcement.
From now on, temporary residents must apply online to extend their stay in Canada. This will free border officers to focus on important tasks and improve efficiency.
2. Tougher Rules to Protect Immigration Documents
To prevent fraud and security risks, changes to immigration laws are being proposed. These changes will allow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to:
- Cancel or change immigration documents, like visas, if there’s fraud or a security concern.
- Stop accepting applications in cases of large-scale fraud or other public risks.
This will help ensure that Canada’s immigration system remains secure and fair.
3. Changing Express Entry to Stop LMIA Fraud
In the Express Entry system, extra points for having a job offer backed by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) will be removed.
This change will:
- Stop people from misusing job offers to get more points.
- Make the system fairer for everyone.
The government announced this update to reduce fraud and maintain the integrity of Express Entry.
Tackling Border Issues and Irregular Migration
Canada is also working on reducing irregular migration by strengthening the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA). This agreement requires asylum seekers to claim refugee status in the first safe country they enter, whether Canada or the U.S.
Key results so far:
- Daily illegal crossings dropped from 165 in March 2023 to just 12 per day after expanding the STCA.
- Asylum claims from Mexican citizens dropped by 92% after new visa requirements were introduced in February 2024.
Canada is also partnering with the U.S. to share information, improve border security, and stop organized crime.
New Rules for Emergencies and Fraud
The government is introducing laws to handle big cases of fraud or emergencies. These changes will let IRCC quickly cancel or pause applications when needed.
This will protect the immigration system from being misused and ensure it stays strong.
Results So Far
Here are some of the successes from these efforts:
- Asylum claims from Mexico dropped by 97% after visa rules were tightened.
- Illegal crossings by visa holders into the U.S. fell by 84% since June 2024.
- Visa refusal rates for high-risk countries are now at 61%.
A Warning to Asylum Seekers
Marc Miller urged people not to attempt crossing the border illegally, especially during winter. It is dangerous and will likely make their asylum claims invalid.
Canada wants to help those in need but also ensure its borders are secure.
What’s Next?
These changes are a big step toward modernizing Canada’s immigration system. By improving border security, stopping fraud, and simplifying processes, the government is creating a fairer and more efficient system.
These updates will also strengthen Canada’s relationship with the U.S. and other countries while keeping Canada a welcoming and secure destination for newcomers.
