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Immigration Minister's Office Defends Strict New Timelines for Refugee Claims
Officials say about 30,000 claimants have been notified that their cases may be ineligible under the new rule.
- Immigration Minister Lena Diab's communications director, Laura Blondeau, defended new rules requiring refugee claims within one year of arrival, saying the government has a "clear mandate to regain control" over Canada's immigration system.
- The rule mandates claims be made within one year of first arrival to address a massive increase in refugee applications and a roughly three-year processing backlog, applying retroactively to claims made on or after June 3, 2025.
- Roughly 30,000 existing claimants have received notices warning their claims may be deemed ineligible, with 21 days to provide additional evidence; affected individuals include a Palestinian man who donated a kidney to his sister and an Iranian political activist.
- NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan called the timeline "arbitrary" and "draconian," arguing the rule violates the 1951 Refugee Convention and could leave the government open to legal challenges.
- Blondeau noted that pre-removal risk assessments exist for those facing exclusion, though critics argue the policy remains stricter than American rules and poses legal risks under international refugee obligations.
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The office of the Minister of Immigration defends the new rules that could lead to the rejection of thousands of refugee claims.
·Montreal, Canada
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Immigration minister's spokesperson defends strict new timelines for refugee claims
OTTAWA — A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Lena Diab is defending new rules that will rule out thousands of refugee claims, saying difficult decisions were required to regain control of Canada's immigration system.
New time limits for refugee applications in Canada will disqualify thousands of people from applying for refugee status. The Immigration Department stated that the government must make difficult decisions in order to regain control of Canada's immigration system.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources15
Leaning Left10Leaning Right1Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution84% Left
Bias Distribution
- 84% of the sources lean Left
84% Left
L 84%
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