OTTAWA –
Canada’s Immigration Department denies Mexico’s claim that a pact between the two countries is already curbing asylum applications in Canada, as the minister responsible faces growing pressure to impose visas on Mexican citizens.
Last week, Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said the two countries were taking unspecified “joint measures,” which it attributed to a drop in the number of complaints filed in December.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller would not say Thursday whether Canada had changed its policies, and a statement from the department said the two countries were only exploring options.
Data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada shows that December saw 500 fewer asylum applications from Mexican citizens compared to the previous month.
But the ministry says declines are usual at this time of year, and the government remains concerned about the general trend.
Ministry data shows there was a 46% increase in the number of asylum applications from Mexican nationals between 2022 and 2023.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published January 27, 2024.
