Canada faces flak for proposing to jail migrants

OTTAWA – The Canadian government’s proposal to use prisons for high-risk immigration detention has stirred significant controversy and concern among human rights organizations and former federal Liberal ministers.

The government of Canada has proposed imprisoning the migrants as part of the federal budget presented recently but the proposal has stirred a controversy.

Critics argue that incarcerating migrants for immigration purposes goes against fundamental human rights principles and international law, and some of them feel that it contradicts the values of the Liberal party.

In response to the criticism, Immigration Minister Marc Miller acknowledged the proposal and assured that detainees would be separated from the general prison population, although some services might be shared. He emphasized that these detainees are not criminals but rather individuals deemed “high-risk” due to factors such as severe mental health issues and deportation orders.

Miller explained that the government’s decision stems from provincial reluctance to continue detaining migrants on behalf of the federal government, leading to the necessity of using federal penitentiaries. He stressed the government’s commitment to maintaining the dignity and respect of detainees while ensuring the safety of Canadians, emphasizing that only a small segment of the population would be affected by this measure.

It is to be highlighted that the government of Canada has recently introduced series of measures to reduce the flow of migrants. The authorities have also announced to reduce the number of international students by 35 percent as compared to 2023. Amidst a housing crisis, the government has also introduced cap on temporary residents for the first time.