Indian nationals have surpassed Mexican citizens as the largest country cohort removed from Canada, according to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). In the first quarter of this year, 1,712 Indian citizens were removed, accounting for 32.5% of the total 5,260 removals. This marks a reversal of the pattern in recent years, with Mexicans previously leading the removals.
The increase in Indian removals was partly driven by several individuals being removed for their involvement in extortion-related violence. This is the first time since 2020 that Indians have accounted for the maximum removals. The trend could hold for the near future, as Indians also make up the largest cohort in the removals in progress inventory of the CBSA.
The CBSA reported that 841 individuals were subject to serious inadmissibility, including national security, organized crime, human rights violations, and criminality. Liaison officers intervened in 5,889 cases to recommend that airlines not allow passengers to board flights to Canada due to concerns over travel document validity.
Removal does not necessarily mean an individual cannot attempt to return to Canada, although the process became more expensive last spring. The Canadian government increased costs for removed persons who want to return, with fees adjusted from approximately 1,500 Canadian dollars to just over 12,800 Canadian dollars for escorted removals and just over 3,800 Canadian dollars for unescorted removals.
