The Canadian government has introduced a new version of Bill C-12, named 'Strengthening Canada's Immigration System Act'. The objective of this law is to tighten border control, curb illegal activities, and make the immigration system more transparent.
Ottawa: The Canadian government has introduced 'Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System Act' or Bill C-12, aiming to make the country's immigration system stricter and more transparent. This new law is specifically designed to curb activities such as illegal migration, cross-border crime, fentanyl trafficking, and money laundering.
According to Canada, this bill will further tighten rules for refugees who arrived in Canada after June 14, 2020, or entered illegally from the United States. Individuals who have previously sought asylum in another safe country will no longer be eligible to apply in Canada.
Objectives of the Canadian Government
The government states that the implementation of Bill C-12 will make it easier to control illegal activities, drug trafficking, and cross-border crimes in Canada. Additionally, the transparency and accountability of the immigration system will increase. Canada's Ministry of Public Safety stated that this law will more tightly regulate the application process for individuals who enter illegally and for refugees.
This will grant immigration officials the authority to suspend, cancel, or amend any document or application if fraud or discrepancies are found.
Key Changes in the New Law
Time Limit on Refugee Applications: If an individual arrived in Canada after June 14, 2020, and claims asylum more than one year later, their application will not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. This rule will apply to everyone, whether the person is a student, a permanent visa holder, or someone who left Canada and returned.
Restriction on Illegal Entrants from the US: Applications from individuals who illegally enter Canada from the US border and do not claim asylum within 14 days will also not be accepted. The objective is to ensure control over cross-border crime and illegal migration.
Stricter Eligibility Rules: Individuals who have previously sought asylum in another safe country will now be unable to apply in Canada. Applications will be processed quickly under the new system, but scrutiny and documentation will be more stringent.
Increased Powers for IRCC: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will now have the authority to cancel, suspend, or amend any immigration document. This rule will apply when false information, fraud, or discrepancies are found in an application.
Impact of Immigration Bill C-12 on Indians
Bill C-12 will not affect Indian permanent residents and citizens already residing in Canada. Their visa and immigration rights will remain as before. However, new refugees and illegal migrants arriving from India may face difficulties under this new law. Those whose applications have been routed to Canada via the US or other safe countries may now encounter significant obstacles in the application process.
Experts state that Bill C-12 is a significant step towards Canada's border security and crime control, but it will also impact the number of refugees and immigration flow.
