Airport Refugee Claims Fell 73 Percent After Ottawa Reinstated Mexican Visa Requirement

Airport Refugee Claims Fell 73 Percent After Ottawa Reinstated Mexican Visa Requirement

The number of refugee claims made by travellers passing through Canadian airports declined by 73 percent after the Liberal government reintroduced a Mexican visa requirement in 2024. A report by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sent to the Senate social affairs committee on Feb. 9 said refugee claims at airports fell from 40,240 to 10,780 year-over-year during the period from January to November 2025. The total number of refug…