OTTAWA — In an effort to recover the cost of removing inadmissible foreigners from Canada, the CBSA is increasing what it charges deportees to ship them back to their home countries.
In a press release Friday, the Canada Border Services Agency — which requires deportees to pay transportation costs for their removal from Canada — will be increasing their cost recovery framework as of April.
“In situations where the inadmissible person is unable or unwilling to pay, the CBSA covers the cost to ensure that they are removed in a timely manner,” the release said.
“Costs are recovered by the Government of Canada when an individual who was removed at the government’s expense seeks to return to Canada.”
While the current system charges deportees a flat $1,500 per removal, the new framework will now charge foreign nationals around $12,800 for escorted removals, and just over $3,800 for unescorted removals, regardless of the destination.
“This change establishes a cost recovery framework that is more in line with the current costs of removals and encourages voluntary compliance with removal orders,” the press release said.
This update is part of the government’s plans to strengthen Canada’s borders and its immigration system, said newly-minted Public Safety Minister David McGuinty — particularly in light of looming tariff threats from President-elect Donald Trump.
“In recent months, we re-imposed a visa requirement on Mexican visitors, aligned the hours of service between Canada and U.S. at many ports of entry, and ended flagpoling for work and study permits at the border, keeping 70,000 non-residents from entering the U.S.,” he said in a statement.
“The security partnership between Canada and the United States has been keeping people on both sides of the border safe for decades – and we’ll always be looking for ways to further strengthen it.”
According to the CBSA, around $497,100 is recovered annually from previously removed individuals who apply to return to Canada.
The border agency successfully deported 14,000 inadmissible foreigners between January and October 2024.
Aside from airfare, costs to deport an individual found inadmissible includes case management, conducting interviews and obtaining necessary travel documents.
While the CBSA works on recovering costs, the border agency still has trouble keeping tabs on those who’ve been declared inadmissible.
Last month, the Toronto Sun reported that border officials lost track of nearly 30,000 people wanted for deportation orders — mainly those who failed to appear for deportation proceedings and those facing active immigration warrants.
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