Parliamentary Committee Notes: Security Assessment and Admissibility at the Border
Issue
The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security has expressed its intention to discuss the security screening process in place to review permanent residence and citizenship application to ensure that individuals who have engaged in acts of terror are unable to enter Canada. It is expected that members of the Committee will enquire specifically on information-sharing and decision-making processes at the border.
Proposed Response
- In processing travellers to Canada, the Government of Canada aims to “push the border out” and identify those who may be inadmissible in advance of their travel, including through the visa and electronic travel authorization process.
- Prior to departure (air travel) and at ports of entry across the country, Canada Border Services Agency officials assess the security risk and admissibility of persons and goods coming to Canada, ensuring legitimate travel and trade can continue efficiently and safely, while keeping harmful goods and inadmissible persons out of our communities. This includes the collection of advanced passenger information in order to conduct targeting activities.
- All persons seeking entry to Canada must report to an officer, answer all questions truthfully and must demonstrate they meet the requirements to enter.
- The admissibility of all travellers, including those previously assessed overseas, is decided on a case-by-case basis using the information available at the time of entry. Several factors are assessed to determine if a person is admissible to Canada, including: involvement in criminal activity, human rights violations, or organized crime; security; health; or finances.
- Every traveller entering Canada must also report goods they are bringing with them, including food, plant and animal products.
- When arriving at an airport of entry, travellers are processed by the Agency via a kiosk or by through interactions with an officer. The CBSA assesses travellers against a variety of systems looking for any mandatory examination referrals due to systems hits/lookouts.
- Travellers may be referred to immigration or a customs secondary examination for further processing depending on responses provided.
- During an immigration secondary examination, officers check previous immigration history and may check the Canadian Police Information Centre / National Crime Information Centre (U.S.) if warranted.
Key Statistics
- In 2023-24, 89 million travellers entered Canada, 30.7 million of which were foreign nationals (excluding permanent residents). In fiscal year 2023/24, CBSA Liaison Officers issued No Board recommendations to 7,598 travellers for suspected fraud which includes:
- 3,344 No Board recommendations made as a result of the National Targeting Centre referrals; and
- In 2023-24, more than 38,000 individuals were denied entry at Canada’s ports of entry.
Background
Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, 62, and Mostafa Eldidi, 26, are two terrorism suspects who were arrested by the RCMP on July 28, 2024, for credible threats to Canada’s national security. Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi was arrested for planning a terrorist attack in Canada.
Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, the father, is a Canadian citizen and Mostafa Eldidi, the son, is a foreign national.
There has been considerable media coverage of this case, and that is anticipated to increase with the motion passed by the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on August 13, 2024, to look at the case, and specifically the security screening processes in place for immigration-related applications and how those with alleged ISIS ties were admitted to Canada and the father obtained citizenship. The committee is to hold a total of six meetings, with two meetings scheduled for the week of August 26.
Ministers Miller and LeBlanc are invited, as well as senior officials such as Deputy Ministers of Public Safety, IRCC, the Commissioner of the RCMP, the director of CSIS, the president of the CBSA, as well as former Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale.
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