IRCC Enhances Authority to Revoke Temporary Resident Documents to Protect Canada's Border Security
On February 12, 2025, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, empowering immigration and border officers to revoke temporary residence permits such as eTAs and Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs). These changes allow for revocation in cases where the holder becomes ineligible, provides false information, has a criminal record, or fails to demonstrate that they will leave Canada after their permitted period of stay. The revised regulations take effect on January 31, 2025.
On December 17, 2024 , the Canadian government announced a CAD 1.3 billion (USD 909 million) border security plan over six years , focusing on surveillance technology, intelligence, and cooperation with the United States to control migration flows and transnational crime. This is a significant move in the context of the United States, under President Donald Trump , stepping up immigration controls and pressuring Canada to limit migration crossings.
Key measures in Canada's plan to enhance border security:
Invest in border surveillance and security.
- Deploying helicopters, drones, surveillance towers, and sniffer dogs to monitor border areas.
- Establish a joint force with the United States to combat transnational organized crime.
Tighten immigration controls.
- Tighten visa issuance and reject more applications to limit the flow of immigrants to Canada.
- The immigration law was amended to allow the government to cancel, suspend, or alter immigration documents for reasons of national security or public interest.
- Preventing "flagpoling," which involves temporarily leaving Canada and immediately returning to renew a visa, is crucial to ensuring the integrity of the immigration system.
- Expediting the processing and quickly rejecting invalid asylum applications will reduce pressure on the immigration system.
Reasons why Canada is tightening immigration controls.
- Pressure from the United States: The Trump administration threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico if the two countries did not tighten controls on immigration and drugs entering the US.
- Increase in illegal immigration: The number of people apprehended at the Canada-U.S. border has more than doubled in the past year , from 23,000 to over 50,000 cases .
- Concerns about the influx of refugees from the US into Canada: As the Trump administration ramps up large-scale deportations, Canada fears a reverse migration wave , with many people attempting to cross the border into Canada to seek asylum.
Warning from the Canadian government.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller warned: "Those who intend to cross into Canada illegally should understand that this is extremely dangerous, especially during the cold winter months."
The Canadian government is committed to protecting its borders, maintaining national security, and ensuring a fair and transparent immigration system .
🔹 Do you have a student, work, or permanent residency visa for Canada?
Don't let changes in immigration policy affect your legal status!
📩 Contact KeyApply – a leading immigration expert – today for updated information and free advice on a safe and legal immigration pathway to Canada! 🚀
