On December 17, 2024, the government of Canada released Canada’s Border Plan, $1.3 billion effort focused on bolstering border security and strengthening their immigration system.
A core component of the Border Plan are changes to end ‘flagpoling’, which happens when a temporary resident leaves Canada and immediately returns to a port of entry to get immigration services. This practice uses significant resources at the border, distracts border officers from enforcement activities, and slows cross-border traffic.
- The Government also proposed, in the Fall Economic Statement 2024, to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to secure and extend new authorities to cancel, change or suspend immigration documents and to cancel, suspend or stop accepting new applications, which would give Canada greater control over its immigration documents to protect Canadians and public resources. These authorities could also help prevent those who may pose a risk to Canada from entering the country and prevent further southbound irregular migration.
- Additional measures include imposing new restrictions on countries that do not rapidly facilitate the return of their citizens in the event of fraudulent entry or a removal order.
Additionally included in the Border Plan are efforts to detect and disrupt the fentanyl trade, deployig a new Aerial Intelligence Task Force comprised of helicopters, drones, and mobile surveillance towers, and enhanced operational coordination and intelligence sharing with the United States.
Erickson Insights and Analysis
We are awaiting details on how this will be rolled out; the intention of the Government is noticeably to curb the practice. Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.