Quebec continues to imprison migrants
The province broke its own promise.
The province of Quebec will continue the practice of detaining migrants for at least another six months. The authorities have promised to stop sending migrants to prison from June 30, 2024. Previously, they had set the deadline for December 31, 2023.
What's the holdup?
This refers to detention for administrative reasons related to immigration history. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has the right to do so if it considers that the identity cannot be established reliably, if the migrant poses a danger to society or if the migrant is simply likely to abscond in violation of migration law.
According to the Agency's own statistics, most migrants are detained for the latter reason. That is, in situations where the border guard believes that they will not show up for the prescribed migration procedures — for example, deportation.
What does this have to do with provinces?
CBSA can hold such detainees either in one of its three immigration centers or in provincial prisons.
According to many human rights groups and experts, the incarceration of detained immigrants in correctional facilities is contrary to international law. In prison, it is more difficult for a migrant to access mental health care or communicate with a lawyer and loved ones.
In 2023, Canada's provinces took turns reporting the termination of their contracts with the Canada Border Services Agency. Nova Scotia was the first in August, followed by Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia in the fall.
The latest were New Brunswick and Quebec, with Quebec promising to end the practice as of the first day of 2024.
Are there a lot of these detentions?
From 2015 to 2020, CBSA arrested an average of about 8,000 migrants per year. About one in four are sent to prison for detention.
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According to the Ministry of Public Safety, as of Dec. 18, 7 people are being held at the Quebec Correctional Facility under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Following the decision by several provinces to terminate their contracts with the federal government, the border agency said it is upgrading its immigration detention centers in Laval, Quebec, Toronto and Surrey, British Columbia. They are also going to adapt their staffing and train guards.
