1. The Smuggling of Migrants - Recent Trends
Liaison Officers Network to Combat Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons
RCM
November 2013

2. Irregular Migration to Canada
Can be measured in terms of interdictions abroad as well as refugee protection claimants in Canada.
Overall, refugee claims made in 2013 are down significantly from 2012.
Recent legislative changes have played a role in expediting the refugee determination process.
Interdiction abroad – includes instances where CBSA Liaison Officers, supporting airlines and local immigration authorities stop a person attempting to travel irregularly ( with an altered passport or as an imposter, sometimes being accompanied by a smuggler) to Canada.
Claims in 2011 ( ), 2012 saw a decrease of 19.1% to (20 507). Claims continue to decrease in 2013.

3. CBSA Operations 13,000 employees (7,200 uniformed officers)
1,200 points across Canada and 49 international locations
119 land-border crossings
13 international airports
Marine operations at major ports, marinas and reporting stations
27 rail sites
3 international mail processing centres
A typical day at the border in 2012:
People 
200,000 land, rail and marine travellers
70,000 air travellers
Goods 
25,000 highway shipments
9,000 air cargo shipments
5,400 marine containers
Postal 
120,000 shipments
These volumes are processed at: 
117 land border crossings
13 international airports
5 major marine ports

5. CBSA Liaison Officer Mandate
To protect the integrity and security of the Canadian border through a range of intelligence, interdiction, investigative and liaison activities related to:
Prevention and disruption of irregular migration
Human smuggling and trafficking
Supply-chain security
Contraband
Food plant and animal safety
National security
Crisis response
Preventing improperly documented passengers from travelling to Canada while facilitating the free flow of legitimate travellers
Support to the Immigration Program abroad:
Provide analysis related to immigration program integrity, irregular migration trends, national security, criminality and human smuggling aspects of the immigration program.
General and case-specific expertise on immigration admissibility, enforcement and intelligence matters.
Deliver essential anti-fraud activities and provide guidance on fraud detection and prevention to the immigration program at Canadian missions abroad

6. CBSA LO Interceptions in 2012-2013
Performance Indicator Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
CBSA LO Interceptions compared to Improperly Documented Arrivals (IDAs)
67%
70%
71%
74%
68%
54%* / **
69%
Volumetrics
IDAs
729
662
599
465
738
1,129*
320
Intercepts
1,472
1,525
1,443
1,322
1,555
1,305**
712
Total
2,201
2,187
2,042
1,787
2,293
2,434
1,032
Source: SSI, February 2013

7. The CBSA LO Interceptions Breakdown

8. Irregular Migration Statistics and Recent Trends
The number of refugee claims in Canada has continued to decrease in 2013.
In 2012 Hungary is responsible for nearly 9.1% of all refugee claims in Canada. Closely followed by China at 8.1%. This year, Hungary is no longer in the top 15 countries, accounting for only 1% of all claims. China is the top source country at 7%.
Refugee claims from visa-exempt countries continue to be of interest.
Organized movements: Iranian, Romanian, Chinese and Sri Lankan nationals.
Factors to decrease in claims:
– Changes to the Interim Federal Health Program took effect July 2012, decreasing access to supplemental health care services such as dental, prescription and vision care for refugees, especially those who have been determined not to be Convention Refugees and are awaiting removal or in the appeal process.
Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act (Bill C-31) and the Balanced Refugee Reform Act (Bill C-11) came into force on December 15, 2012.
2. Refugee claims from visa-exempt countries, especially Eastern European countries (Slovak Republic, Croatia) continue to rise. The Eastern European movement appears to be made up primarily of members of the Roma community. Claims from Hungary decreased by 58% however reports from Intelligence in GTA Region indicate that the number of Hungarians entering Canada has not decreased substantially, just that they are no longer making claims. Polish claims have decreased by 39%.
3. Three organized movements that have been identified in the recent years are those of Iranians, Romanians and Sri Lankans.

9. Irregular Migration – Refugee Claims in Canada
5 years ago, the most significant source of refugee claims in Canada were from the Americas (primarily Mexico - 7,162, Haiti and Colombia). Europe was the least significant source of claims (Albania was the top source from Europe with 229 claims).
Today, Europe is the most significant source of refugee claims in Canada (primarily from Hungary).
Asia/Pacific:
China continues to be a significant source of refugee claims (1,796 in 2011), the vast majority of which are submitted inland. Very few claims are made at the land border (12 in 2011) or at the airport (69 in 2011). Many are using passports from Taiwan (visa-exempt country) to travel to Canada.
Claims from India increased in 2011 as compared to Most Indian refugee claimants travelled on genuine Indian passports with improperly obtained TRVs.
Africa & Middle East:
The events of the Arab Spring led to an increase in claims primarily from Syria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria. The increase in refugee claims was primarily the result of an increase in inland refugee claims submitted by foreign nationals from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region who were already in Canada on TRVs at the time of the event of the Arab Spring. There was no significant increase in refugee claims from MENA nationals via the air mode.
Europe:
Europe was the most significant source of refugee claims in 2011.
Europe was also the most significant source of improperly documented arrivals (IDAs) that made refugee claims.
Much of this movement is made up of members of the Roma community.
Americas:
Top three sources in 2007: Mexico, Haiti and Colombia.
Mexico recorded 7,162 claims in 2007, 9,471 in 2008, 7,594 in 2009 and dropped to 2,351 in 2010.
Colombia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Mexico were the three most significant sources of refugee claims from the Americas in 2011, however they have all decreased as compared to 2010.

10. Irregular Migration – Primary Source Countries for 2012
Country
No. of Claims
Hungary
1880
China
1664
Croatia
893
Pakistan
862
North Korea
723
Nigeria
709
Colombia
695
India
686
Slovak Republic
444
Somalia, Democratic Republic of
430
Total
20 507
Increasing
Decreasing
2010:
Hungary 2353
China 1,525
Pakistan 515
Colombia 1,344
Namibia 308
Nigeria 849
St. V & G 707
Mexico 1,202
India 521
Sri Lanka 1,168
Major increases: Hungary, Namibia, Pakistan
Major Decreases: Colombia, Mexico, Sri Lanka

11. Improperly Documented Arrivals 2012 Citizenship
The Big Four:
China, India, Sri Lanka and Iran are consistently among the top ten sources of IDAs.
Countries that float in and out of the top 10 include Colombia, Pakistan, Turkey, Nigeria, El Salvador, Albania, Eritrea, Honduras, and Burundi.

12. Transit Points of IDA Refugee Claimants 2012
The Americas, and particularly Mexico, Panama and Caracas, have been identified as transit points for irregular migration destined to Canada.
Figure 1:
The majority of improperly documented refugee claimants arriving in Canada via the air mode are Iranians, followed by Nigerians, Romanians and Sri Lankans.
Figure 2:
The most frequently used last embarkation points are Mexico City, Caracas, Panama City, Punta Cana and Havana.

13. Weaknesses at the Border itself
Safe Third with the US – loophole of “anchor relative” in Canada has been used increasingly by different groups to obtain entry into Canada for the purposes of making refugee claims.  Even more so when dealing with “clans” or “tribes” where many of the last names are the same, e.g. Romas and most recently, Eritreans.
Native Reserves – The ability to move product and people across the Canada/US border through native reserves, e.g. Akwesasne or Walpole Island, continues unabated with enforcement activities having minimal affect.
*Safe Third Country Agreement:
Under the STCA, persons seeking refugee protection must make a claim in the first country they arrive in (US or Canada), unless they qualify for an exemption to the Agreement (e.g. family member in Canada).

14. Iranian Nationals
Iranians are the most frequently detected improperly documented irregular migrants arriving in Canada from points in the Americas.
Iranians tend to target the passports of visa-exempt countries (most often Canada, France and Israel).
They tend to arrive from Mexico City, Caracas or Panama City.
They have often previously transited Turkey.
They often are male, travelling alone, and between the ages of
There are reports of smugglees/refugee claimants being co-erced into supporting the criminal enterprise.
Iranian Movement:
Iranians tend to use one of two routes to enter Canada: through Western Europe or through the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, particularly through Mexico City, Panama and Caracas. The Intelligence and Targeting Operations Directorate (ITOD) is leading a project to identify the organizational structure of the movement of Iranians to Canada.
From GTA Intelligence- World wide smuggling operation involved in the movement of people, currency, drugs, MOC’s, Human trafficking, counter intelligence and counter terrorism.  Reports of smugglees/refugee claimants being co-erced into supporting the criminal enterprise.  Very fluid as MO can change quickly when detected by law enforcement.

15. Chinese Movement
In 2013 a new trend surfaced where PRC nationals use the Washington State/ British Colombia land border to cross illegally into Canada. We suspect a smuggler in the U.S is creating false identifies for subjects with previous US visa refusals wishing to enter Canada.

16. Cuban Movement
Claims are averaging about 16 per month this year, forecasting a year end total of 192. This is an increase of 2012 where Cubans made 147 claims.
Cuban claims are predominantly inland (77%). This indicates that the Cuban movement is able to circumvent controls at the border.

17. Romanian Nationals CBSA has identified the organized
movement of Romanian nationals
to Canada via Mexico and the
United States.
Arrive in Mexico by air
Cross into the United States on foot between the Ports of Entry.
Cross into Canada on foot between
the Ports of Entry around the New
York/Quebec area. In the Fall 2012
they started to run the Ports of
Entry using vehicles and were subsequently determined to be “designated
arrivals”. The movement has moved westward to the Prairie and Pacific
Regions.
Romanian movement:
An organized movement of Romanians has been identified.
A number of inland and land border refugee claimants from Romania report arriving in Mexico by plane from Romania (Romanians can travel visa-free to Mexico).
The majority of Romanian refugee claimants are entering clandestinely through the Canada-US land border at a place other than a POE – when caught they are near the Vermont-Quebec or New York-Quebec border regions. Prairie and Pacific Regions have reported that the port-running has moved to Alberta and British Columbia and that there are increased reports of criminal activities attributed to this movement.
Many of the Romanian refugee claimants purport to be Roma who are discriminated against due to their ethnicity.
There are concerns related to human trafficking, especially involving minors.
Recent update: There is ongoing cooperation with US Customs and Border Protection on this issue. In terms of statistics, there have been a total of 58 claims for refugee protection in Canada by Romanian nationals in the month of October.

18. Hungarian Roma
Greater Toronto Area Intelligence is seeing many Hungarian Roma refugee claimants returning to Hungary, changing their legal name, obtaining a new passport and returning to Canada to file a subsequent refugee claim.
Recent amendments to IRPA including a quicker turn around time and fewer benefits including social and medical services, have shown a dramatic reduction in the number of refugee claims for the first 3 months of 2013 versus the first 3 months of 2012 and 2011. 
However, the number of travellers on Hungarian passports remains unchanged indicating the same number of people are entering Canada.  They are just not making refugee claims meaning no photos or fingerprints are taken and no comparisons made or identities challenged. Subjects can return to the same criminal activities as before they left.

19. East European Females
Smuggling rings were bringing Eastern European females into Canada primarily thru Pearson International Airport (Toronto) from Moscow.  The use of visa exempt passports such as Israeli and Lithuanian being prime choices.  Movement has now shifted to Pierre Elliott Trudeau (Montreal) with transits from Turkey but again on Israeli passports. Intelligence received that they may be shifting to German passports. East European females are also being moved north and south across the border for the sex trade, as demand flows, between Ports of Entry.

20. Sri Lankan Nationals
Despite the arrival of a migrant vessel carrying nearly 500 Sri Lankan migrants in 2010, migrants from Sri Lanka have traditionally entered Canada via the Canada/US land border.
The introduction of the Safe Third Country Agreement in 2004 significantly reduced this movement.
Refugee claims from Sri Lankan nationals submitted at the land border have been increasing every year since 2007.
Reporting indicates that many are arriving in Canada after transiting through several points in South America, Central America and the Caribbean.
Sri Lankan Movement:
The Sri Lankan movement is similar to the Romanian movement in that they tend to arrive in Canada on foot via the United States/Mexico.
*Safe Third Country Agreement:
Under the STCA, persons seeking refugee protection must make a claim in the first country they arrive in (US or Canada), unless they qualify for an exemption to the Agreement (e.g. family member in Canada).

21. Nigerian Nationals
Nigerians are often claiming to be from Ghana, Ivory Coast or Liberia in order to prevent identification.  Many reports of document labs producing fake Canadian citizenship cards which are then used to obtain Canadian passports and further legitimize the identities.  Criminal activity in the US hidden by either entering from the US surreptitiously or via third country.

22. Canada Border Services Agency www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Questions?
Canada Border Services Agency