Immigration Detention: Canada

Immigration Detention Dept: Heather Mallick s column leaves readers with misleading conclusions, as she has glossed over a number of important facts in our immigration system, according to The Star. Detention of asylum seekers is used in a tiny fraction of cases, typically where we have been unable to confirm the identity of a claimant, or it is believed that they may not be admissible to Canada on national security grounds. The vast majority of families subject to detention are not asylum seekers, but rather people whose asylum claims have been rejected following multiple reviews by our legal system, who have no legal right to remain in Canada, but who have been deemed a flight risk. Their detention is usually for a short period of time and is subject to frequent reviews by the independent Immigration and Refugee Board. People who have no legal right to remain in Canada but who cooperate with their removal are not subject to detention, and those subject to detention can be released at any point by leaving the country voluntarily and re: Canada s razor-wire playgrounds, Column, Dec. 15 Immigration detention is a tool used on a very limited basis in Canada, and is not new to our system. The current legal framework for immigration detention, including for minors, was developed by the previous government with its adoption of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in 2002. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.