Human Smuggling

Human smuggling is a criminal enterprise that spans the globe. Human smugglers facilitate, for a profit, individuals entering Canada illegally. By charging people large sums of money for their transportation, human smugglers have made a lucrative business out of facilitating illegal migration, often by counselling smuggled persons to claim asylum in the country to which they are smuggled. Human smuggling can take place in many forms, including by boat.

Human smuggling undermines Canada’s security. Large scale arrivals make it difficult to properly investigate whether those who arrive, including the smugglers themselves, pose risks to Canada on the basis of either criminality or national security.

News Releases and Statements

• 29 June 2012: Legislation to Protect Canada's Immigration System Receives Royal Assent
• 16 February 2012: Harper Government Introduces the Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act
• 16 June 2011: Government of Canada takes action to prevent human smugglers from abusing Canada's immigration system

Media advisories

• 15 June 2011: Ministers Toews and Kenney will make an announcement

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