Minister Miller Stresses Need for Closer Monitoring of Visa Applications from India Canada’s federal government is ramping up efforts to combat the misuse of visitor
Canada to Take Stronger Action Against Misuse of Visitor Visas, Says Immigration Minister
Minister Miller Stresses Need for Closer Monitoring of Visa Applications from India
Canada’s federal government is ramping up efforts to combat the misuse of visitor visas, as highlighted by Immigration Minister Marc Miller. In a recent interview with CBC News, Miller underscored the necessity for stricter oversight and measures to address ongoing concerns regarding improper visa utilization.
“We’ve implemented several measures over the summer to regulate the flow of individuals entering the country,” Miller explained. “It’s essential to ensure that those arriving on visitor visas are doing so for the appropriate reasons – such as tourism, family visits, or business – not to seek asylum or travel to the U.S. without proper authorization.”
Increase in Migrant Crossings at the U.S.-Canada Border
Recent statistics from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveal that between October 2023 and August 2024, over 21,929 migrants were intercepted on the U.S. side of the Canada-U.S. border. This includes 17,810 apprehended in the Swanton Sector, which encompasses Quebec’s border with New York and Vermont. These figures represent a significant rise from the previous year, which recorded 8,686 migrants stopped, and a dramatic increase compared to just 2,238 two years prior.
Notably, nearly 60% (12,992 individuals) of those intercepted originated from India, prompting heightened scrutiny of Indian visa applicants.
WATCH | CBC News investigates human smuggling on the Quebec-N.Y. borderRead more here
Closer Scrutiny for Visa Applications from India
Minister Miller indicated that Canada is “exploring visa integrity measures” in response to these rising concerns. While he did not disclose specific actions, Miller emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that visas are utilized correctly and that any potential misuse is swiftly
detected.
“I can’t share all the specifics, as it could impact the effectiveness of the measures,” he noted.
“However, we are fully aware of the situation and are actively addressing it.”
Social Media’s Role in Migrant Flow
The surge in unauthorized crossings has given rise to a lucrative network, with posts on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok illustrating the ease of crossing from Montreal into the U.S. Miller described these posts as “quite blatant,” expressing concern over their potential to encourage further illegal crossings.
The issue of increased migrant flow has been a focal point of discussions between Miller, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen. Miller stressed the importance of collaboration to maintain safe and secure borders.
“We have a responsibility to our U.S. counterparts to ensure our borders are properly managed,” he stated. “The networks facilitating these crossings are sophisticated and often involve criminal activity. We must address this on multiple levels, ensuring that our security services have the necessary tools and information to take action.”
Canada remains dedicated to partnering with the U.S. to tackle these challenges and implement stronger measures to prevent the misuse of visitor visas.
