Overall refugee claims by air passengers fell 75% after Cabinet reintroduced visas on Mexicans, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) figures show.Taxpayers saved millions when the visa rule was brought back into force on February 29, 2024, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.CBSA data shows refugee claims at Canadian airports totaled 3,340 in the first quarter of 2025 compared to 13,400 in the same period in 2024 — a 75% decline. Refugee claims at land crossings over the same period fell from 4,575 to 4,125, a 10% decline.The nationality of those claiming refugee status on arrival in Canada to date this year was not detailed. Mexicans historically accounted for the largest share, more than refugee claimants from China, Russia, India or Pakistan combined..“Responding to a clear increase of fraud in the asylum system as seen in the increasing number of rejected, withdrawn or abandoned applications, we put in place a visa requirement for Mexican nationals,” then-Immigration Minister Mark Miller told reporters January 15.“Since that time asylum claims from Mexican citizens at our airports have decreased.”A previous Conservative Cabinet introduced the visa rule on Mexicans in 2009 when refugee claims reached 9,511 a year. Claims subsequently fell to as few as 120 annually, according to Immigration Department figures.The Liberal Cabinet in 2016 lifted the visa requirement on complaints from Mexico.“Few decisions have received as much condemnation as the establishment by the Canadian government of visas for Mexicans,” Jesus Reyes-Heroles, then-Mexican Ambassador to the United States, said at the time..Refugee claims by Mexicans, mainly at airport arrivals, peaked at 23,995 in 2023 before visas were reintroduced.“Most Mexican claims are made at airports on arrival, an indication that claiming asylum, not visiting, was the true purpose of travel,” the Immigration Department wrote in a 2024 Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement.“The majority of Mexican claims are abandoned, withdrawn or rejected by the Immigration and Refugee Board.”The Department calculated taxpayers saved $660 million a year on “security screening, processing of claims, investigations, hearings, detentions, litigation and removals of failed asylum claimants” when Cabinet reintroduced Mexican visas.“Do you regret not doing it earlier?” a reporter asked Minister Miller at the time.“We’ve been examining these measures for months,” replied Miller.Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly earlier said Cabinet had no choice but to eliminate visa-free travel by Mexican nationals.“When it comes to Mexico, we know we came up with a way to strengthen our immigration system,” she said.“But we believe also that North America is always stronger when we’re working together.”“Are you worried about retaliation?” asked a reporter.“We have a very good relationship with the Mexican government,” replied Joly.
