CIMM – Asylum Trend Data – November 18, 2022

Key Messages

• Since November 2021, Canada has experienced an influx of asylum claimants entering irregularly at Roxham Road.
• The top three source countries for irregular claimants are Haiti, Turkey and Colombia.
• In 2022, irregular claimants make up the top method of entry for asylum claimants, whereas in the past four years, inland claims have represented the highest volumes.
• For the second year in a row, Mexico has been the top source country for all asylum claimants.

Supplementary Messages

Asylum claims

• With the exception of 2020 and 2021 (as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic), asylum volumes have been steadily increasing.
• Previously, most asylum claimants claimed inland. That trend has changed and now, the majority of claimants arrive irregularly between the ports at Roxham Road. So far in 2022, 44% of all asylum claimants have entered between the ports.

Irregular arrivals at Roxham Road

• Irregular claims (also known as between the port claims) have made up the highest volume of all asylum claims in 2022 so far.
• This is a shift in trend as for the past four years, the highest volumes of asylum claims were received inland.
• Between November 21, 2021 to September 30, 2022, the top four source countries for irregular migrants are Haiti (27%), Turkey (15%), Colombia (12%), and Chile (4%). Chileans are almost exclusively children of Haitian nationals born in Chile.
• Between November 21, 2018 to September 30, 2019, the top five source countries were Nigeria (19%), Colombia (9%), Democratic Republic of Congo (6%), Pakistan (5%), and the United States (5%). Citizens of the United States were almost exclusively children of other nationalities born there.

Haitian claimants

• Since 2017, the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) approval rate for Haitian claims is 34.2%. The total IRB approval rate for between the port claims from all countries is 52% (February 2017-June 2022).

Turkish claimants

• Turkish nationals have historically made refugee claims inland prior to the pandemic. This trend has now shifted, with more Turkish nationals crossing at Roxham Road.
• Since 2017, the IRB approval rate for Turkish claims is 91%.

Colombian claimants

• Since 2017, the volume of Colombian claimants has been steadily increasing.
• Prior to 2018, Colombian nationals were most likely to claim at the land border; however, since 2018, trends have shifted and now they are more likely to claim between the ports.
• Since 2017, the average acceptance rate for Colombian asylum claimants at the IRB has been 67%.

Mexican claimants

• Mexico is currently the #1 source country for asylum claimants in Canada. In 2022, the volume of Mexican asylum claimants is projected to exceed 15,000.
• Since 2017, the average IRB approval rate for Mexican claims is 32.2%.

Seasonal increases in asylum claimants

• Seasonal increases generally occur:
  • At land borders: July and August
  • At airports: May, September and December
  • Inland: August to November
  • Between the ports: July and August
• While historically between the port claimants see increased volumes in July and August, in 2022, we have seen a shift in which the month of September exceeded the already heavy volumes of both July and August.

Response

• IRCC continuously strives to maintain the integrity of Canada’s asylum system, including through officer training and vigilance in the issuance of immigration documents, through analysis of caseloads and intelligence to detect patterns and identify new trends, as well as ongoing active cooperation with our law enforcement partners, including working to disrupt traffickers who seek to exploit the vulnerable. The Department also engages in anti-fraud communication strategies to dispel misinformation.

Capacity building in the Americas (responsive):

• Addressing irregular migration and forced displacement in Latin America and the Caribbean, including the Venezuela crisis, remains a top priority for Canada.
• Canada is increasing its migration and protection-related capacity building support in the region, through funding and technical assistance. Canada is partnering with multilateral organizations to support origin, transit and destination countries to help respond to the challenges posed by these increased irregular migration movements.
• The initiatives aim to strengthen the region and countries’ abilities to manage the increased migratory flow in the Americas, while increasing access to protection systems and regularization opportunities that will allow for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers to safely integrate in the region in an orderly fashion. Strengthening migration and protection systems also serve as alternatives to irregular migration and further northbound movement.
• The current projects seek to reinforce migration and protection systems, as well as border management capacities in Mexico, Central America (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama), and Colombia to support addressing irregular migration and forced displacement in the region.
• In particular, the projects aim to support these countries’ efforts to strengthen their asylum systems for streamlined and timely processing and adjudication of asylum claims. The projects also aim to promote regularization and socio-economic integration of migrants, refugees and asylum claimants, support migration management systems to better manage the movement of people, and support migrants in situations of vulnerability.
• Funding is largely provided through multilateral partners such as United Nations Agencies (IOM, UNHCR, ILO) in coordination with host governments, to build ownership and ensure initiatives respond to the challenges posed by the increased flow of migrants.

Supporting Facts And Figures

Seasonal Increase in Asylum Claimants

• Since 2017, there has historically been seasonal increases in total asylum claims from July to October.
• The average seasonal increase has been 23%.