Immigration Minister Rejects Broad Naturalization Plan for Undocumented Migrants
Immigration Minister Marc Miller has stated that a large-scale plan to grant permanent residency to undocumented workers will not be pursued until after the next election.
“That being said, in certain cases where key employees are needed, there is a possibility of small-scale regularization,” Miller informed reporters on Nov. 13.
Miller emphasized the need for fairness in Canada’s asylum system, ensuring that asylum seekers receive proper due process. “This also means that when they are unsuccessful, they must leave the country, including through deportations,” he added.
During the 2021 election, the Liberals pledged to “explore ways to regularize the status of undocumented workers contributing to Canadian communities,” without specifying a timeline for implementation.
In May 2024, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed the need for a pathway to regularization and citizenship for undocumented individuals in Canada, a goal that Miller was actively involved in. Trudeau also acknowledged the necessity of deportations in some cases to maintain the integrity of the immigration system.
In a recent interview with The Globe and Mail, Miller discussed collaborating with the incoming Trump administration to address illegal immigration, recognizing that not all individuals are welcome in Canada.
Trump’s Border Plan
Following his victory in the Nov. 5, 2024 election, President Trump, who served from 2016 to 2020, reiterated his commitment to carrying out the “largest deportation operation in American history” to remove the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country once he assumes office in January.
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Trump designated former Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Tom Homan as his “border czar” to oversee the deportation operation. In an interview with TV network WWNY, Homan stated that border patrol agents along the Canada-U.S. border are overwhelmed by migrants.
He highlighted the increasing number of migrants entering the U.S. through the Mexico border, while expressing concerns about the lack of resources at the northern border, posing significant national security risks. Homan also mentioned the presence of “special interest aliens” from countries supporting terrorism attempting to enter the U.S. from Canada, recalling encounters with them during his tenure in border security.
The Canada-U.S. border has witnessed a rise in encounters with migrants, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting an increase from 109,535 in 2022 to 198,929 in 2024. The RCMP has prepared contingency measures for various scenarios, from a minor uptick in illegal migration to a potential crisis resembling the aftermath of Trump’s 2016 victory.
“While we do not wish for such circumstances, we are prepared for any eventualities,” stated Sgt. Charles Poirier to The Epoch Times, mentioning logistical planning for transportation and suitable facilities in case of a surge in migrant inflow.
