Ontario Extends Immigration Detention Contract, Raising Concerns Among Advocates
Toronto, September 27, 2024 – The Ontario government has extended its contract with the federal government to continue imprisoning migrants for immigration purposes until September 2025, despite earlier promises to end the practice. The extension allows more time for the federal government to update infrastructure for holding detainees.
Human rights advocates and immigration lawyers have long argued that incarcerating migrants violates international law. Lawyer Stéphanie Valois, co-president of the Quebec Association of Immigration Lawyers, called the decision “really disappointing” given the harmful mental health impacts on detainees and its contradiction with international standards.
Ontario’s move contrasts with decisions by other provinces, such as Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, which have chosen to end immigration detention agreements with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
The federal government plans to house high-risk detainees in federal penitentiaries, sparking criticism from former ministers and activists. As of September 13, only 21 immigration detainees remain in provincial jails.
Advocates fear this shift will worsen conditions for detainees, who already face harsh treatment akin to that of convicted criminals. The Canadian Red Cross, which monitors immigration detention facilities, has not publicly released reports for the past three years, prompting further concerns.