New Canadian Asylum Law Threatens Rejection of Thousands of Applicants

The new asylum law has come into effect in Canada, introducing major amendments that could lead to the rejection of thousands of asylum applications, especially for applicants who delayed submitting their claims after entering the country.

Under the new law known as Bill C-12, stricter conditions have been introduced to determine asylum eligibility, in an effort to reduce pressure on the immigration system and limit its misuse, according to Canadian authorities.

The new amendments state that anyone applying for asylum more than one year after entering Canada will not have their case referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board, meaning they will be denied a formal hearing to review their claim.

The law also includes another condition for individuals entering Canada through the land border with the United States, requiring them to submit their asylum claim within only 14 days of entry, otherwise their applications will not be accepted under the official asylum review process.

The government believes these measures will limit the misuse of the asylum system as an alternative migration route, while critics warn that such restrictions may affect individuals who are genuinely in need of protection.

For those whose applications are not accepted under the new rules, they will still be able to request a pre-removal risk assessment, a procedure intended to ensure they are not returned to countries where they may face danger.

However, this procedure does not provide the same guarantees as the full asylum system, such as formal hearings or appeal opportunities, raising concerns among some human rights groups about the fate of applicants whose cases are rejected.

Canadian authorities emphasize that these amendments aim to modernize the asylum system and reduce pressure caused by the rising number of applications, as well as close loopholes that could be exploited to enter the country irregularly.

The amendments also grant authorities broader powers to share information between government institutions, along with the ability to suspend or cancel certain immigration documents in specific cases related to public interest.

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