The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is intensifying efforts to locate 599 foreign nationals with criminal convictions who have failed to appear for deportation proceedings and are now on the agency’s “wanted” list.According to CBSA data reported by The Globe and Mail, a total of 1,635 foreign nationals convicted of crimes in Canada are currently facing deportation, with 431 of the fugitives found guilty of serious offences, such as sexual assault.Among the fugitives, 315 have been evading authorities for over three years, while an additional 46 have been unaccounted for more than two years.Speaking to The Globe and Mail, CBSA spokesperson Luke Reimer emphasized the agency’s priority to remove individuals with criminal records “as soon as possible to ensure the protection and safety of Canada and the Canadian public.”.Liberals will wait for illegal immigrants to leave Canada voluntarily amid growing concerns .The CBSA’s challenges come amid rising numbers of missing foreign nationals with criminal convictions.In 2021, 469 such individuals were unaccounted for, a figure that has since grown.To aid in their efforts, the CBSA previously maintained a “Wanted by the CBSA” webpage, launched in 2011, which displayed mug shots of high-risk offenders to solicit public tips.The page, which featured 159 profiles before its removal in 2023, was part of the agency’s strategy to track down missing individuals.Of the 1,635 foreign nationals facing deportation, 401 are currently serving prison sentences and will be deported upon release.Meanwhile, 29 others with criminal records are detained, while most are supervised in the community, some with electronic monitoring or reporting requirements.Foreign nationals, including failed asylum claimants, have the right to appeal deportation orders in court, a process that can delay removal for years.The CBSA has moved away from detaining high-risk offenders in provincial prisons following objections from provinces, human rights organizations, and immigrant advocates.Plans to use federal prisons for this purpose were also abandoned after backlash from advocacy groups.The CBSA is continuing its efforts to locate the missing individuals.
