Federal officials have lost track of more than 2,800 criminals who were awaiting deportation – and the public deserves better updates on the situation, the Commons public accounts committee heard Thursday..The public is owed regular updates on the number of foreign fugitives in Canada, Blacklock’s Reporter said the committee concluded..“The Canada Border Services Agency did not remove the majority of foreign nationals who were subject to enforceable removal orders as soon as possible in order to protect the integrity of the immigration system and maintain public safety,” said a committee report..MPs said the Agency should submit updates every ninety days..Access To Information records earlier obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation showed foreign fugitives included defendants implicated in serious crimes. Charges and convictions included murder, assault, drug trafficking, fraud and theft..Auditor General Karen Hogan in a July 8 reportestimated federal agents had lost track of 34,700 fugitives due to be deported, including 2,800 criminals..The Border Services Agency last November 24 said it had tracked down 2,000 of the 2800 criminal fugitives..“Criminal cases are very important for public safety,” Hogan earlier testified at the Commons public accounts committee..“Overall we found the Agency’s approach to managing removal cases had not resulted in the timely removal of inadmissible foreign nationals.”. Committee demands more updates on CBSA deportation removals .The audit found at least seventy per cent of criminal cases were not reviewed annually and lapsed year after year..“Periods of inactivity in the cases we examined averaged four years,” said the report..Fugitives included those convicted of violent crimes and deemed to “pose a threat to the public.”.The Agency has spent $34 million a year on its deportation program..“This audit is important because the timely removal of foreign nationals who are found inadmissible protects the integrity and fairness of Canada’s immigration system,” wrote auditors..“It is also one of the most effective ways to deter those who might otherwise seek to abuse the system. In the case of criminals, timely removal protects the safety and security of Canadians.”.Auditors found even where the Agency had not lost track of deportees, enforcement could take “from days to years.”.“We estimated about 1,500 cases had been inactive for at least two years,” said the report..“Most had not been worked on for several years.”.Complaints over inadequate tracking of foreign fugitives date from 2014 hearings of the Senate national security committee..Senators expressed frustration with the Agency’s inability to deport people who had no right to remain in Canada..“I don’t quite understand why we would tolerate this,” said then-Senator Daniel Lang (Yukon)..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter.com/nobby7694
