There has been a dramatic decrease of people from Mexico claiming asylum at Canadian airports.

In an update on border security Wednesday, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said the reintroduction of visas for Mexican airline passengers has led to a 97% decrease in refugee claims.

“Responding to a clear increase of fraud in the asylum system as seen in the increasing number of rejected, withdrawn or abandoned applications, we put in place a visa requirement for Mexican nationals,” Miller told reporters, as reported by Blacklock’s Reporter.

“Since that time, asylum claims from Mexican citizens at our airports have decreased by 97% compared to 2023.”

The visa requirement for Mexican nationals was implemented in February 2024.

An Immigration Canada statement said Mexicans crossing the border south from Canada into the U.S. also fell by 72% last year compared to 2023.

The update was part of an announcement detailing Canada’s increased border security measures with the U.S., which includes an investment of $1.3 billion to strengthen security at the border with more personnel, tools, advanced technology, drones, surveillance equipment, and helicopters.

The visa requirement was dropped by the federal government in 2016 following complaints from Mexican officials, in response to “an alleged abuse by Mexicans who embraced Canadian asylum.”

According to immigration department figures, Canada saw a sudden rise of refugee claims by Mexicans to 23,995 in 2023, up from as little as 120 a year, after the visa rule was dropped.

Analysis from the immigration department in March 2024 said taxpayers saved $660 million a year in processing dubious claims after the visa requirement was reinstated.

“Record levels of asylum intake have been received from Mexican nationals,” said the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement, adding that the processing of thousands of asylum applications at airports was “unsustainable.”

Immigration officials said very few refugee claims were legitimate.

“Most Mexican claims are made at airports on arrival, an indication that claiming asylum, not visiting, was the true purpose of travel,” said the statement. “The majority of Mexican claims are abandoned, withdrawn or rejected by the Immigration and Refugee Board.”