Question Period Note: Security Screening And Admissibility

Concerns about security screening

• The Government is committed to rebuilding Canadians’ trust in the immigration system.

• We continuously improve immigration security screening to ensure our immigration and asylum systems are resilient and are responsive to new and developing pressures.

• Everyone who applies to come to Canada is assessed by trained immigration officers to determine if they are admissible to Canada.

• In collaboration with our Public Safety partners, IRCC reviews each applicant to ensure that they do not pose a threat to the health, safety, or security of Canadians.

If pressed:
• IRCC conducts an initial assessment of all foreign nationals who submit an application.

• This initial assessment includes a review of departmental databases and looks for indicators of risk.

• It also includes the sharing of biometric information with the RCMP for checks against its criminal records database and could include checks with international partners.

• Immigration screening, information sharing and enforcement is a joint effort between Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Policy (RCMP).

• Admissibility is decided on a case-by-case basis using information available to the officer at the time of screening (when a person applies for temporary or permanent residence, citizenship or refugee protection) or when they enter Canada at a port of entry.

• Applications are assessed by trained immigration officers who carefully and systematically assess each application against the criteria set out in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

• IRCC conducts preliminary admissibility assessments on temporary and permanent residence applications. IRCC checks their personal information and history against databases and looks for indicators of risk to verify their identity and assess any potential grounds for inadmissibility.

• If risk indicators are identified, IRCC refers the application for comprehensive security screening by CSIS and the CBSA. These two organizations play an integral role in the security screening program, including by providing security information and advice to IRCC on immigration applicants.

• A person may be found inadmissible, denied a visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA), or refused entry or authorization to remain in Canada for multiple reasons, including criminality, misrepresentation, human rights violations, danger to public health and national security concerns. Each case is decided on its own merit and all applicants must satisfy the officer that they are not inadmissible to Canada to receive a positive determination on their application.

• Even after a visa has been issued, CBSA officers may identify individuals who could pose a risk, before they board an aircraft destined to Canada, as well as when they arrive at a Canadian port of entry. IRCC can also cancel visas if new information exposes issues before the person arrives in Canada.

• All foreign nationals, unless exempted, must provide their biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) when they apply for temporary and permanent residence and refugee protection. The use of biometrics is an important part of the immigration and border decision-making processes. It is a reliable and accurate tool for establishing and confirming a person’s identity, and identifying possible grounds inadmissibility at the earliest possible opportunity.

• Once collected, IRCC checks fingerprints against domestic immigration and criminal databases, including records of known criminals, past refugee claimants, deported people and previous immigration applicants. Officers also check them against data from our international partners to verify an applicant’s identity and identify potential reasons for inadmissibility.

• Combined, this screening increases Canada’s ability to make better-informed admissibility decisions, mitigate identity theft, combat irregular migration and prevent persons who pose a risk to the safety and security of Canadians from entering the country.

• With the exception of some vulnerable groups and special measures in place to support resettlement initiatives, most permanent resident applicants must provide a police certificate or criminal record check as part of the application process. In certain cases, temporary resident applicants may also be asked to provide this documentation.

CBSA and CSIS Security screening

• Security screening conducted by the CBSA and CSIS is an important part of the overall assessment of whether a person is admissible to Canada. It aims to ensure that anyone who wants to come to Canada:
o has not, is not or will not be engaged in an act of espionage that is against Canada or that is contrary to Canada’s interests;
o has not, is not or will not be engaged in or instigated the subversion by force of any government;
o has not, is not or will not be engaged in an act of subversion against a democratic government, institution, or process as they are understood in Canada;
o has not, is not or will not be engaged in terrorism;
o has not, is not or will not be engaged in acts of violence that would or might endanger the lives or safety of persons in Canada;
o does not pose a danger to the security of Canada;
o has not, is not or will not violated human or international rights;
o has not, is not or will not be found inadmissible on the grounds of sanctions; and,
o has not, is not or will not be engaged in organized or transnational criminal activities.

• Once an application for comprehensive security screening is referred by IRCC, CBSA and CSIS use a range of tools to confirm or negate risk indicators. CBSA then provides an assessment and recommendation to the IRCC decision maker, which may include information from international partners.

• IRCC officers ultimately makes the final decision on immigration applications. The officer takes an holistic approach, considering all of the information and documentation on file, the recommendations made by the CBSA and/or CSIS, applicable jurisprudence, and the respective threat level. All applicants are subject to universal and non-discriminatory considerations.

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