Nineteen failed refugee claimants were sent back to Afghanistan last year, CBSA says

Canada’s border guards sent 19 Afghans who failed their refugee claims back to Afghanistan in 2023, despite ongoing concerns about the human rights record of the Taliban regime. The Canada Border Services Agency confirmed that none of the Afghans had their cases dismissed on the basis of safety or security risks. The CBSA did not disclose how many of the 19 individuals were women, citing privacy concerns.

The removals took place despite a federal Temporary Suspension of Removals order for Afghan nationals that has been in place since 1994. The order is intended to halt removals to a country where general conditions, such as armed conflict or environmental disasters, pose a risk to the civilian population. However, individuals found inadmissible on certain grounds, such as criminality or security risks, can still be removed.

The CBSA stated that the 19 individuals who failed their refugee claims left Canada voluntarily, meaning they were aware of the Temporary Suspension of Removal on Afghanistan but requested to have their removal order enforced. This decision raises questions about the circumstances that led to their return to Afghanistan.

A UN expert recently called on Canada to grant refugee status to all female Afghan asylum seekers in the country, highlighting the dangerous and oppressive environment faced by women and girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The Taliban has imposed restrictions on women’s education and religious freedoms, prompting concerns about the safety of Afghan women.

Immigration experts have questioned the removals of failed Afghan claimants, particularly the high number of individuals sent to undisclosed third countries. The decision to return individuals to third countries raises concerns about the adequacy of protection for those being sent elsewhere.

The government has not yet decided on providing blanket refugee status to all Afghan women and girls in Canada. While Canada has welcomed thousands of Afghans since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, the fate of those who have failed their refugee claims remains uncertain.

In conclusion, the removal of 19 Afghans who failed their refugee claims back to Afghanistan raises concerns about the safety and security of individuals returning to a country under Taliban rule. The government’s stance on providing blanket refugee status to Afghan women and girls in Canada remains undecided, highlighting the complexities of refugee protection policies in the face of ongoing human rights challenges.