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The Smuggling of Migrants - Recent Trends

The Smuggling of Migrants - Recent Trends. Liaison Officers Network to Combat Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons RCM November 2013. Irregular Migration to Canada. Can be measured in terms of interdictions abroad as well as refugee protection claimants in Canada.

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The Smuggling of Migrants - Recent Trends

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  1. The Smuggling of Migrants - Recent Trends Liaison Officers Network to Combat Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons RCM November 2013

  2. Irregular Migration to Canada • Can be measured in terms of interdictions abroad as well as refugee protection claimants in Canada. • Overall, refugee claims made in 2013 are down significantly from 2012. • Recent legislative changes have played a role in expediting the refugee determination process.

  3. CBSA Operations • 13,000 employees (7,200 uniformed officers) • 1,200 points across Canada and 49 international locations • 119 land-border crossings • 13 international airports • Marine operations at major ports, marinas and reporting stations • 27 rail sites • 3 international mail processing centres

  4. CBSA Liaison Officer Mandate To protect the integrity and security of the Canadian border through a range of intelligence, interdiction, investigative and liaison activities related to: • Prevention and disruption of irregular migration • Human smuggling and trafficking • Supply-chain security • Contraband • Food plant and animal safety • National security • Crisis response

  5. CBSA LO Interceptions in 2012-2013 Source: SSI, February 2013

  6. The CBSA LO Interceptions Breakdown

  7. Irregular Migration Statistics and Recent Trends • The number of refugee claims in Canada has continued to decrease in 2013. • In 2012 Hungary is responsible for nearly 9.1% of all refugee claims in Canada. Closely followed by China at 8.1%. This year, Hungary is no longer in the top 15 countries, accounting for only 1% of all claims. China is the top source country at 7%. • Refugee claims from visa-exempt countries continue to be of interest. • Organizedmovements: Iranian, Romanian, Chinese and Sri Lankannationals.

  8. Irregular Migration – Refugee Claims in Canada

  9. Irregular Migration – Primary Source Countries for 2012

  10. Improperly Documented Arrivals 2012 Citizenship

  11. Transit Points of IDA Refugee Claimants 2012

  12. Weaknesses at the Border itself • Safe Third with the US – loophole of “anchor relative” in Canada has been used increasingly by different groups to obtain entry into Canada for the purposes of making refugee claims.  Even more so when dealing with “clans” or “tribes” where many of the last names are the same, e.g. Romas and most recently, Eritreans. • Native Reserves – The ability to move product and people across the Canada/US border through native reserves, e.g. Akwesasne or Walpole Island, continues unabated with enforcement activities having minimal affect.

  13. Iranian Nationals • Iranians are the most frequently detected improperly documented irregular migrants arriving in Canada from points in the Americas. • Iranians tend to target the passports of visa-exempt countries (most often Canada, France and Israel). • They tend to arrive from Mexico City, Caracas or Panama City. • They have often previously transited Turkey. • They often are male, travelling alone, and between the ages of 20-35. • There are reports of smugglees/refugee claimants being co-erced into supporting the criminal enterprise.

  14. Chinese Movement • In 2013 a new trend surfaced where PRC nationals use the Washington State/ British Colombia land border to cross illegally into Canada. We suspect a smuggler in the U.S is creating false identifies for subjects with previous US visa refusals wishing to enter Canada.

  15. Cuban Movement • Claims are averaging about 16 per month this year, forecasting a year end total of 192. This is an increase of 2012 where Cubans made 147 claims. • Cuban claims are predominantly inland (77%). This indicates that the Cuban movement is able to circumvent controls at the border.

  16. Romanian Nationals • CBSA has identified the organized movement of Romanian nationals to Canada via Mexico and the United States. • Arrive in Mexico by air • Cross into the United States on foot between the Ports of Entry. • Cross into Canada on foot between the Ports of Entry around the New York/Quebec area. In the Fall 2012 they started to run the Ports of Entry using vehicles and were subsequently determined to be “designated arrivals”. The movement has moved westward to the Prairie and Pacific Regions.

  17. Hungarian Roma • Greater Toronto Area Intelligence is seeing many Hungarian Roma refugee claimants returning to Hungary, changing their legal name, obtaining a new passport and returning to Canada to file a subsequent refugee claim. • Recent amendments to IRPA including a quicker turn around time and fewer benefits including social and medical services, have shown a dramatic reduction in the number of refugee claims for the first 3 months of 2013 versus the first 3 months of 2012 and 2011.  • However, the number of travellers on Hungarian passports remains unchanged indicating the same number of people are entering Canada.  They are just not making refugee claims meaning no photos or fingerprints are taken and no comparisons made or identities challenged. Subjects can return to the same criminal activities as before they left.

  18. East European Females • Smuggling rings were bringing Eastern European females into Canada primarily thru Pearson International Airport (Toronto) from Moscow.  The use of visa exempt passports such as Israeli and Lithuanian being prime choices.  Movement has now shifted to Pierre Elliott Trudeau (Montreal) with transits from Turkey but again on Israeli passports. Intelligence received that they may be shifting to German passports. East European females are also being moved north and south across the border for the sex trade, as demand flows, between Ports of Entry.

  19. Sri Lankan Nationals • Despite the arrival of a migrant vessel carrying nearly 500 Sri Lankan migrants in 2010, migrants from Sri Lanka have traditionally entered Canada via the Canada/US land border. • The introduction of the Safe Third Country Agreement in 2004 significantly reduced this movement. • Refugee claims from Sri Lankan nationals submitted at the land border have been increasing every year since 2007. • Reporting indicates that many are arriving in Canada after transiting through several points in South America, Central America and the Caribbean.

  20. Nigerian Nationals • Nigerians are often claiming to be from Ghana, Ivory Coast or Liberia in order to prevent identification.  Many reports of document labs producing fake Canadian citizenship cards which are then used to obtain Canadian passports and further legitimize the identities.  Criminal activity in the US hidden by either entering from the US surreptitiously or via third country.

  21. Questions? Canada Border Services Agency www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

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