Arrests, detentions and removals
Quarterly Detention Statistics – Fourth quarter (Q4) - 2018-2019
Overview
National
Quarter | Entries by foreign nationals to Canada | Persons detained (total)* | Persons in detention (daily average) | Detainees as a % of entries by foreign nationals to Canada | Detention days | Average length of detention (days) | Median length of detention (days) | Detentions in Immigration Holding Centres (IHCs)* | Detentions in non-IHC | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Detentions in provincial facilities* | Detentions in other facilities* | |||||||||
Q1 | 9,402,636 | 2,722 | 378 | 0.03% | 33,587 | 12.3 | 1 | 2,156 (67%) |
579 (18%) |
476 (15%) |
Q2 | 12,943,868 | 2,406 | 347 | 0.02% | 31,137 | 12.9 | 2 | 1,874 (66%) |
552 (20%) |
404 (14%) |
Q3 | 7,475,020 | 2,338 | 324 | 0.03% | 28,926 | 12.4 | 1 | 1,806 (64%) |
573 (20%) |
448 (16%) |
Q4 | 6,298,515 | 2,395 | 334 | 0.04% | 29,353 | 12.3 | 2 | 1,870 (68%) |
545 (20%) |
322 (12%) |
Source: CIC DWS - Business Reporting CBSA - DHAA Datamart |
* In the National table (table 1.1), the number of “persons detained (total)” in each quarter is the actual number of persons detained. However, the number of “persons detained (total)” in each quarter cannot be summed up to equal a total number of persons detained over several quarters since persons would be counted multiple times due to some carry-over from one quarter to the next. For example, a person detained and counted in one quarter may remain in detention in the next quarter and therefore would be counted twice. Additionally, the number of “persons detained (total)” for each quarter will not be equal to the sum of “Detentions in IHCs”, “Detentions in provincial facilities” and “Detentions in other facilities” since over the quarter a person may be detained in one type of facility and then transferred to another type. For example, a person may initially be detained in an IHC and transferred to a provincial facility and therefore would be counted twice.
Quarter | 24 hours or less | 25-48 hours | 3-9 days | 10-39 days | 40-99 days | Over 99 days |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q1 | 1,322 | 294 | 359 | 440 | 234 | 134 |
Q2 | 969 | 328 | 387 | 427 | 222 | 127 |
Q3 | 967 | 286 | 407 | 442 | 187 | 122 |
Q4 | 1,049 | 247 | 413 | 422 | 200 | 119 |
Source: CIC DWS - Business Reporting CBSA - DHAA Datamart |
Province | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alberta | 55 | 63 | 68 | 69 |
British Columbia | 536 | 489 | 490 | 447 |
Manitoba | 28 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
New Brunswick | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Northwest Territories | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Nova Scotia | 0 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
Ontario | 1,473 | 1,210 | 1,235 | 1,361 |
Quebec | 627 | 615 | 527 | 494 |
Saskatchewan | 1 | 8 | 1 | 5 |
Yukon | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Prince Edward Island | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: CIC DWS - Business Reporting CBSA - DHAA Datamart |
Grounds for detention | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Examination | 108 | 170 | 111 | 48 |
Suspected inadmissibility on grounds of serious criminality/ criminality/organized criminality | 22 | 18 | 12 | 9 |
Suspected Inadmissibility on grounds of security | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Suspected inadmissibility on grounds of human/international rights violation | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Identity | 148 | 147 | 141 | 119 |
Danger to the public | 23 | 28 | 30 | 25 |
Unlikely to appear/danger to the public | 183 | 156 | 160 | 159 |
Unlikely to appear | 2,270 | 1,911 | 1,917 | 2,050 |
Security certificate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Designated foreign national | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: CIC DWS - Business Reporting CBSA - DHAA Datamart |
Note: Grounds for detention: These are outlined in Section 55 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- Examination: Detained on entry to Canada when necessary to do so in order for examination by an officer to be completed. All persons who seek to enter or transit through Canada are subject to examination by a border services officer. An examination can be as simple as a few questions, but can also include an examination of the person’s personal belongings, more intensive questioning, or personal searches.
- Suspected of serious criminality, criminality or organized crime: Detained on entry to Canada when an officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that the permanent resident or foreign national is inadmissible on grounds of serious criminality, criminality or organized crime.
- Suspected Inadmissibility on grounds of security: Detained on entry to Canada when an officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that the permanent resident or foreign national is inadmissible on grounds of security as per section A34 of IRPA.
- Suspected inadmissibility on grounds of human/international rights violation: Detained on entry to Canada when an officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that the permanent resident or foreign national is inadmissible on grounds of violating human or international rights as per section A35 of IRPA.
- Identity: Detained as they are unable to satisfy the officer as to their identity.
- Danger to the public: Detained when an officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the foreign national is inadmissible and is a danger to the public.
- Unlikely to appear: Detained as the person is deemed to be unlikely to appear for examination, an admissibility hearing, removal from Canada or at a proceeding that could lead to the making of a removal order by the Minister under IRPA subsection 44(2).
Analysis Q4
- Between Q3 and Q4 of 2018-2019, the CBSA observed an increase of 2.4% in the number of persons detained (from 2,338 in Q3 to 2,395 in Q4). The proportion of persons detained vis-à-vis the number of entries by foreign nationals is up slightly to 0.04% compared to Q3 (0.03%). This increase is largely attributable to a continued spike in traveller arrivals from Mexico since the visa lift in December 2016. The number of Mexican Nationals detained increased by 39.7% between Q4 2017-2018 (748) and Q4 2018-2019 (1,045).
- Between Q3 and Q4 of 2018-2019 the use of provincial facilities remained stable, representing 20% of all detentions in both quarters. However, when compared to the same period last year (23.1% in Q4 2017-2018), a decrease of 3 percentage points in the use of provincial facilities is observed.
- The average length of detention decreased by 1% (from 12.4 days to 12.3 days) between Q3 and Q4 of 2018-2019. When comparing Q4 2017-2018 (14.1 days) and Q4 2018-2019 (12.3 days) there was a decrease of 12.8% in the average length of detention. However, there was an increase of 1.5% in the total number of detention days between Q3 (28,926 days) and Q4 (29,353 days) and a 4% increase when compared to the same period (Q4 2017-2018) last year (28,226 days).
- The number of persons detained for over 99 days has declined consistently since January 2017 when a number of operational practices were put in place by the CBSA to ensure that all actions toward removal are being pursued and that potential release options continue to be explored. Since Q3 2018-2019 there has been a decrease of 2.5% in the number of persons detained for over 99 days (from 122 to 119). When compared to the same quarter last year (Q4 2017-2018) a decrease of 15% is observed (from 140 to 119).
Notes:
- A fiscal-year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31. Quarters are broken down as follows: Q1 (April 1 to June 30); Q2 (July 1 to September 30); Q3 (October 1 to December 31); Q4 (January 1 to March 31).
- Find out more about detentions including where people are detained, information about the detention review process and the National Immigration Detention Framework outlining the CBSA's approach to making the Canadian immigration detention system better and fairer. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations also provide additional information including the legislative grounds for detention.
- Detention days are the number of cumulative days spent in detention for all detainees over the reporting period under the provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- Median length of detention represents the middle value (or the average of two middle values) in days when the numbers are listed in numerical order from smallest to largest.
- Detentions in other facilities includes other law enforcement agencies (i.e., RCMP detachments, local and provincial police cells), CBSA ports of entry (POE) and inland enforcement (IE) cells. Note that POE and IE cells as well as other law enforcement agencies’ cells are only used for very short periods of time.
Minors
- Context
- Best interests of the child:
- An international principle to ensure children enjoy the full and effective benefit of all their rights recognized in Canadian law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is also a rule of procedure that includes an assessment of the possible impact (positive or negative) of a decision on the child or children concerned.
- Minor:
- A person under the age of 18
- Accompanied minor:
- A foreign national or permanent resident who arrives to Canada accompanied by a responsible adult (parent, guardian).
- Detained minor:
- A foreign national or permanent resident who is deemed to be inadmissible in his/her own right and is subject to an Order for Detention under A55 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
- Housed minor:
- A foreign national, permanent resident or Canadian citizen who, after the completion of a best interests of the child assessment, is kept with their detained parent/legal guardian at a IHC at the latter's request. A housed minor is not subject to an Order for Detention and is free to remain and re-enter the CBSA IHC subject to the parent/legal guardian's consent.
- Unaccompanied minor:
- A foreign national or permanent resident who arrives to Canada unaccompanied by a responsible adult (parent, guardian) and is not effectively taken into the care of such a person.
Overview
National
Quarter | Minors accompanied by parent/guardian | Unaccompanied minors | Average length of time in a facility (days) | Total # minors in a facility |
---|---|---|---|---|
Q1 | 39 | 1 | 13.1 | 40 |
Q2 | 34 | 2 | 23.2 | 36 |
Q3 | 37 | 0 | 28.2 | 37 |
Q4 | 24 | 1 | 20.9 | 25 |
- For more information on the detention of minors see section 5.11 of the Detention Manual
- The total number of minors in a facility accounts for all minors (foreign nationals, permanent residents and Canadian citizens).
- A Canadian citizen cannot be detained but in rare and exceptional circumstances may be housed with a parent/legal guardian in a facility if it is in the best interests of the child.
Quarter | Status | Gender | Age | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Foreign National | Canadian | Male | Female | 0-5 years | 6-11 years | 12-17 years | |
Q1 | 37 | 3 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 15 | 8 |
Q2 | 35 | 1 | 15 | 21 | 14 | 8 | 14 |
Q3 | 36 | 1 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 11 | 6 |
Q4 | 20 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 7 | 3 |
Quarter | Length of housing/detention | Facility type | Average length of time in a facility (days) | Median length of time in a facility (days) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
48 hours or less | 3-9 days | 10-39 days | 40-90 days | 91-180 days | 181+ days | IHC | Youth Centre | Other | |||
Q1 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 13.1 | 8 |
Q2 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 23.2 | 8 |
Q3 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 28.2 | 18 |
Q4 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 20.9 | 23 |
*Detentions in other facilities includes CBSA ports of entry (POE) and inland enforcement (IE) cells. Note that POE and IE cells are only used for very short periods of time. |
Quarter | Detention grounds of parent/guardian | Total | Average length of time in a facility (days) | Median length of time in a facility (days) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exam | Suspected of serious criminality, criminality, organized crime | Unlikely to appear | Identity | ||||
Q1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 23 | 39 | 13.4 | 8 |
Q2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 23 | 34.1 | 26 |
Q3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 29 | 36 | 28.8 | 18 |
Q4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 22.0 | 23 |
Quarter | Detention grounds of minor | Total | Average length of time in a facility (days) | Median length of time in a facility (days) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exam | Unlikely to appear | Identity | ||||
Q1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Q2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Q4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Quarter | Detention grounds of minor | Total | Average length of time in a facility (days) | Median length of time in a facility (days) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exam | Unlikely to appear | Identity | ||||
Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Q2 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 4.2 | 3 |
Q3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 9 |
Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Regional
Quebec
Quarter | Detention grounds of parent/guardian | Total | Average length of time in a facility (days) | Median length of time in a facility (days) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exam | Suspected of serious criminality, criminality, organized crime |
Unlikely to appear | Identity | ||||
Q1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 21 | 35 | 15.2 | 10 |
Q2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 23 | 34.1 | 26 |
Q3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 29 | 36 | 28.8 | 18 |
Q4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 20.9 | 23 |
Quarter | Detention grounds of minor | Total | Average length of time in a facility (days) | Median length of time in a facility (days) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exam | Unlikely to appear | Identity | ||||
Q1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Q2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 5.4 | 3 |
Q3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 9 |
Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Greater Toronto Area
Quarter | Detention grounds of parent/guardian | Total | Average length of time in a facility (days) | Median length of time in a facility (days) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exam | Unlikely to appear | Identity | ||||
Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Quarter | Detention grounds of minor | Total | Average length of time in a facility (days) | Median length of time in a facility (days) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exam | Unlikely to appear | Identity | ||||
Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Q2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2.3 | 2 |
Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pacific
Quarter | Detention grounds of parent/guardian | Total | Average length of time in a facility (days) | Median length of time in a facility (days) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exam | Unlikely to appear | Identity | ||||
Q1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Q4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 24 |
Quarter | Detention grounds of minor | Total | Average length of time in a facility (days) | Median length of time in a facility (days) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exam | Unlikely to appear | Identity | ||||
Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Analysis Q4
- In accordance with the CBSA’s National Immigration Detention Framework and the National Directive for the Detention or Housing of Minors, the number of minors housed or detained decreased by 32.4% in Q4 2018-2019 (25) when compared to Q3 2018-2019 (37). When comparing to the same period last year Q4 2017-2018 (12), an increase of 108.3% was observed. It is to be noted that Q4 2017-2018 had seen a significant decrease (68%) compared to the previous and following quarters, likely due to an operational adjustment as a result of the issuance of the National Directive late in Q3 2017-2018. It should be noted that the number of minors in detention facilities decreased by 49.6% since 2014-15 (from 232 to 117). In Q4 2018-2019 of the 25 minors, only one (1) unaccompanied minor was detained (for 1 day), while the balance (24) were housed with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s). Further to the Directive, the CBSA is committed to reducing the housing and detention of minors and the separation of families to the greatest extent possible. The best interest of the child is a primary consideration and decisions on whether a minor may be housed with their detained parent is largely based on the parent’s request, and the minor’s level of dependency and physical, mental and emotional needs.
- The average length of time a minor spent in a facility also decreased by 25.9% between Q3 (28.2 days) and Q4 2018-2019 (20.9 days).
- With the exception of 2 minors housed in the Pacific region, the Quebec region housed or detained the majority (92%) of minors in Q4 (23). Nationally, in Q4 Quebec continued to see the largest number of irregular arrivals, receiving 93% of all entries between POEs. Of those minors housed or detained in Quebec in Q4, 73.9% (17) arrived between ports of entry, remaining fairly consistent with previous quarters.
- Nearly seventy-one percent (70.8%) of the minors, were with their parent(s) or legal guardian who were detained on grounds of identity; and, 29.2% with their parent(s) or legal guardian detained on the ground that they were unlikely to appear for either an examination, an admissibility hearing, a removal from Canada or at a proceeding that could lead to the issuance of a removal order by the Minister.
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