Ottawa has reportedly lost track of approximately 33,000 immigrants who are attempting to evade orders to leave Canada, as stated by Erin O’Gorman, president of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), during her testimony before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. O’Gorman noted that the number of individuals in the CBSA's "wanted inventory" has remained relatively stable over the past five years, while the removals of immigrants deemed inadmissible on security grounds have doubled during the same timeframe.
CBSA Vice President of Intelligence and Enforcement, Aaron McCrorie, likened the agency's efforts to "scooping water out of a bathtub," indicating that, despite their ongoing removals, the influx of individuals seeking to evade deportation continues to grow.
According to data released by the agency on November 30, 2025, the CBSA is actively working to remove roughly 1,500 individuals associated with criminal activity, from a total of nearly 30,000 individuals in Canada who are being targeted for removal.
Aisling Bondy, president of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, emphasized that deportations of non-citizens convicted of crimes are commonplace. However, there exists a "false perception" that the immigration system is more lenient towards these individuals. Bondy highlighted that non-citizens face deportation risks, which do not apply to citizens, making the system harsher for them. She confirmed that deportations happen routinely and that many individuals could be removed based on convictions, even after residing in Canada for decades.
Zero Tolerance: Support for Immediate Deportation
A recent Leger poll, conducted exclusively for OMNI News, revealed that a significant majority of newcomers believe that non-citizens convicted of crimes should be deported. Specifically, 28 percent advocated for a zero-tolerance policy, while a similar portion supported case-by-case evaluations. This data indicates a strong sentiment among immigrants regarding the treatment of non-citizens who commit offenses.
Bondy explained that non-citizens facing removal orders have limited options for appealing these decisions. Even when appeals are possible, there is no guarantee of success, and any favorable outcomes are usually accompanied by strict conditions. She mentioned instances where individuals who have lived in Canada for decades now confront removal due to past criminal convictions.
Current Deportation Statistics
Since the beginning of the year until October 31, 2025, Canada reportedly deported nearly 19,000 individuals. Bondy argues that misconceptions about special treatment for immigrant offenders can arise due to the assumption that non-citizens commit crimes at a higher rate. The OMNI-Leger poll further indicated that 82 percent of newcomers believe that the Canadian government should adopt stronger measures to prevent conflicts from being introduced into the country through immigration. This perspective was notably stronger among older, White respondents and those who have resided in Canada longer.
During the committee session, CBSA officials revealed that out of the total removals in the past year, 845 individuals were removed for serious inadmissibility. The agency projected that it is on track to deport approximately 20,000 people by March 2026, emphasizing ongoing efforts to address immigration enforcement.
The poll was conducted between October 2 and October 15, 2025, and included 1,510 participants, all born outside of Canada. The methodology employed did not allow for a margin of error to be calculated.
This discussion forms part of a series of reports by OMNI News, with continued data being released throughout the month.
