Question Period Note: Afghanistan

Criticism of Canada’s immigration response to the crisis in Afghanistan one year after the fall of Kabul.

• Canada’s response to the situation in Afghanistan includes our plan to resettle at least 40,000 vulnerable Afghans to Canada by the end of 2023, which is one of the largest commitments around the world.
• Over half of this commitment focuses on those who assisted Canada, including 18,000 spaces for the Special Immigration Measures Program for Afghan nationals and their families who closely assisted the Government of Canada, as well as 5,000 spaces for the extended family members of Afghan interpreters who came to Canada under earlier programs.
• The remainder of the spaces focus on helping vulnerable Afghans through the humanitarian streams. More than 26,000 Afghans can now call Canada home.
• The Government remains firm in its commitment and is working to bring vulnerable Afghans to safety in Canada as quickly as possible.

If pressed:
• Under the SIMs program, IRCC now has applications for more than 16,855 Afghans and their family members, some of whom have already arrived in Canada. IRCC will continue to send invitations to apply until all spaces in the program are filled.
• We have a large number of Afghan clients who remain in Afghanistan and we continue to work with allies, partner organizations, and neighbouring countries to assist with safe passage.
• Even with the ambitious size of our program, many individuals who expressed interest in coming to Canada will not be eligible for resettlement. Regrettably, this is a far larger number than we can bring to Canada.

Recommendations of the Committee report
• The Government of Canada thanks the Members of Parliament and others who contributed to the Special Committee for their dedication to the people of Afghanistan and for their extensive review of this critical topic.
• The Government of Canada agrees in whole or in principle with most of the 37 report recommendations and is working to advance the suggested actions, where possible.
• These actions include making adjustments to existing policies and programs and continuing to work with a wide range of partners, including regional and like-minded governments, to secure safe passage for eligible Afghan nationals.
• The Government of Canada will consider measures, including legislative options, to balance the need for delivery of humanitarian aid and other life-saving activities against the preservation of Canada’s strong counter-terrorism prohibitions.

If pressed that 18,000 spaces for SIMs being arbitrary:
• Our sense of obligation comes from our deep connection with Afghanistan, as well as our humanitarian and international commitments.
• 23,000 spaces under the commitment focus on those who assisted Canada through the SIMs program for Afghan nationals and their families who closely assisted the Government of Canada, as well as the extended family members of Afghan interpreters who came to Canada under earlier programs.

If pressed: lost files:
• The Government of Canada has not lost applications under the Special Immigration Measures Program.
• Although hundreds of thousands of individuals have sent in some form of communication to IRCC, DND or GAC expressing their interest, an individual can only submit an application once they have been invited to apply by IRCC, based on a referral from GAC or DND. IRCC issues invitations to apply on a first-in, first-out basis, based on available space in the program.
• IRCC has now received sufficient referrals from GAC and DND for the remaining spots.
• We remain in close contact with approved applicants who are still in Afghanistan. We work individually with each person and group to verify they have the necessary documents, and cooperate with authorities in neighbouring countries to facilitate safe passage and onwards travel to Canada.

Single journey travel documents and entry into 3rd countries
• The key persistent challenge is that many Afghans in need of protection are still in Afghanistan, and movement out of the country both by air and by land continues to be very difficult and dangerous.
• Each country sets its own entry and exit requirements and determines if and when these requirements are changed.
• IRCC already issues Single Journey Travel documents (SJTDs) to Afghans clients as it does with refugees from around the world; however, there is an important distinction to be made between these and other travel documents such as passports.
• SJTDs are only issued to foreign nationals when processing, including biometrics, is complete, and approval for resettlement has been confirmed.
• SJTDs require a visa for entry to Canada and the document is only valid for a single journey to Canada. Having a single journey travel document to come to Canada alone does not satisfy the entry or exit requirements of third countries.

Application processes:
• We are working as quickly as possible to process applications remotely and digitally with the assistance of staff across the organization through our integrated network of global visa officers.
• We have streamlined the application process, but the processing and vetting of refugees, including security checks, is something we need to do to protect the safety of Canadians.
• We continue to engage international and domestic partners to find ways to maximize immigration and humanitarian pathways to Canada.

Special Immigration Measures
• The Special Immigration Measures Program (SIMs) was launched in July 2021 for locally-engaged staff at the Canadian Embassy in Afghanistan, and for Afghans, and their families, who had a significant and/or enduring relationship with the Government of Canada.

• IRCC has received over 16,855 applications for Afghan nationals who assisted the Government of Canada (e.g., locally engaged staff, interpreters), along with their family members. Of these, 11,240 have been approved, and 9,135 have arrived in Canada, as of Dec. 7, 2022.

• Individuals who apply to the Program are referred to IRCC by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) or the Department of National Defence (DND). GAC and DND identify whether individuals that contacted the Government of Canada, via email or web form, have a significant and/or enduring relationship with the Government of Canada. When a significant and/or enduring relationship is found, they can be referred onward to IRCC. IRCC sends invitations to apply after receiving the referral from DND and GAC, based on available space. Only the applicants that have been invited to apply have active applications. To ensure equitable treatment, IRCC processes complete applications on a ‘first in, first out’ basis.

• Afghan nationals under the SIM program arrive as Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs). They receive immediate and essential services, income support, and Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) coverage through Canada’s Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP).

Humanitarian Program
• On August 13, 2021, IRCC announced a Humanitarian Program to resettle vulnerable and at-risk groups, including women leaders, human rights defenders, persecuted religious or ethnic minorities, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, and journalists.

• As of Dec. 7, 2022, 14,955 Afghan refugees have arrived in Canada through the humanitarian program.

• To implement the Humanitarian Program, we are taking a multi-pronged approach:

1. We are working with a diverse set of referral partners to identify those Afghans most at-risk. This includes long-standing partners, such as the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and new partners such as the U.S. Government, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), ProtectDefenders.eu, and Front Line Defenders (FLD).

2. We are also leveraging our private sponsorship program, including working with Canada’s network of sponsorship agreement holders to create dedicated spaces for Afghans on top of existing plans.

• To come to Canada under Canada’s refugee resettlement program, an individual needs to be referred to IRCC by a designated referral organization, or a private sponsorship group.

• While Quebec is an active supporter of Canada’s humanitarian traditions, under the 1991 Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec has the sole responsibility for the selection of immigrants and the delivery of settlement and resettlement services in the province. As of November 19, 2022, they have received approximately 951 Afghan nationals, of which 201 are Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs) and 750 are Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSRs).

Extended family members of previously resettled Interpreters
• On December 9, 2021, IRCC opened a pathway to permanent residence for extended family members of Afghans who worked for or assisted the Government of Canada or the Canadian Armed Forces and who immigrated to Canada under previous public policies implemented in 2009 and 2012.

• Approximately 300 Afghan interpreters along with their immediate family members, for a total of nearly 800 individuals came to Canada under these two public policies.

• Stakeholders and advocacy groups raised concerns that those who have been unable to flee Afghanistan may be targeted by the Taliban, while others who have fled may be at risk of being forced to return.

• The vast majority still reside in Afghanistan. It is likely that they face an increased risk due to their relationship to the former interpreters.

• Extended family members can apply directly, or with the help of an in-Canada family member. In addition to federally funded settlement services available to all permanent residents in Canada, Afghans in this stream receive three months of income support through the Resettlement Assistance Program and coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program for twelve months.
• As of November 19, 2022, 5,089 Afghans (in persons) have passed eligibility and security requirements and are being processed. Over 3,280 applications have now passed eligibility. As of Nov. 30, over 670 people have arrived in Canada under this public policy.

Settlement

• To determine a final destination, IRCC works closely with refugees to help them end up in a place where they’ll thrive. This begins with making every effort to help them settle in communities where they have family or other ties, and continues with considerations around the availability of specialized services (e.g. health services) needed by newcomers. IRCC makes every effort to destine refugees to places with resettlement supports already in place, strong cultural ties as well as access to safe and affordable housing, schools, and other vital community supports.

• Additionally, Afghan GARs qualify for the same settlement services available to all newcomers. These supports and services help them integrate and build a successful life in Canada as quickly as possible and include:
o need and assets assessments and referrals
o information and orientation services to help newcomers make informed decisions
o language assessment and language training

o employment services to prepare for the workplace and link to employers
o community connections linking immigrants to communities and institutions
o support services to facilitate participation in settlement programming (i.e.: child care, transportation, translation)

Facilitation letters
To facilitate the evacuation of vulnerable Afghans in August 2021, the Government of Canada sent letters directly to Afghan nationals who were eligible to come to Canada to help them clear checkpoints on the way to and at the airport in Kabul.

These letters were issued up until August 28, 2021, and were for the sole purpose of assisting applicants in getting through checkpoints on the way to the airport and gaining entry to the airport in Kabul. These facilitation letters were issued by Global Affairs and IRCC ONLY using official government email addresses directly to applicants. The Government contacted them about the purpose of the letter and next steps regarding the evacuation and their applications.

When IRCC became aware of the potential use of inauthentic facilitation letters, IRCC undertook an internal review of the matter in accordance with IRCC protocols and authorities, and has since made a referral to the appropriate law enforcement partners.

As per IRCC authorities, IRCC conducts administrative investigations to validate program integrity and compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act program requirements. Where IRCC receives information that falls outside of this context, IRCC can refer the information to law enforcement partners.
To protect the integrity and privacy of potential investigations, we are unable to speak to further specific details.

Afghans in Pakistan
We are doing everything we can to help Afghans inside and outside of Afghanistan, including working with partners in the region, state entities, international and non-profit organizations to implement our plan and ensure we remain nimble and responsive to evolving circumstances.

IRCC is working with its partners, including Canadian NGOs, for support to facilitate movement of those inside Afghanistan to the border. IRCC has added more employees and resources in our missions abroad and in domestic offices to process applications as quickly as possible. We have also added more resources in our mission in Pakistan.

We are engaged in a productive and ongoing dialogue with Pakistan regarding safe passage for Canada-bound Afghan refugees. As a result of these efforts, Canada has welcomed 20 chartered flights with Afghan refugees from Pakistan since the start of the year, and we anticipate more Afghans arrivals in the coming weeks.

Each flight comes with its own hurdles to overcome given the unstable conditions and ever-changing circumstances around exit documentation requirements.

Screening:
o The Government of Canada’s priority remains getting people safely out of Afghanistan; however, Canada has no military or diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, which presents challenges in how we collect and verify applicants’ information in the absence of in-country biometric screening capacity.
o Until such time that in-country processing is feasible, we have a solution in place, using a multi-stage approach to security screening in Afghanistan, which ensures that the necessary initial client security screening can be completed prior to departure.
Refugee Status Determination
• We appreciate the strong interest in this program, which demonstrates Canadians’ continued willingness to help those fleeing the crisis in Afghanistan.
• IRCC has received complete applications for 3,000 Afghan refugees under this public policy and the program is now full.
• As a result, we are no longer accepting applications. Those who submitted an application after the program cap was reached will be notified and their application returned.
• Canadians who are looking for ways to get involved can visit our website to learn more about how to support Afghans through financial or in-kind donations, or through other methods of private sponsorship, which continue to be available.

EMPP
o In addition to all these special pathways, we’re going to work with partners to utilize the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, an innovative program designed to help skilled refugees resettle in Canada, to welcome even more Afghan refugees.
Admissibility
o As with all applications, Afghan refugees need to meet eligibility and admissibility requirements before they are accepted for resettlement to Canada. The lack of a physical presence in Afghanistan has presented challenges in how we collect and verify the information of applicants still in the country. To aid the screening process, IRCC has introduced an enhanced process to collect additional biographic information from clients while they are still in Afghanistan.
o Clients with no admissibility concerns after enhanced biographic screening may be facilitated onwards to a third country where biometric screening and completion of an inadmissibility decision will be made before onward travel to Canada.