The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in Quebec is facing scrutiny for its aggressive deportation tactics, which have led to the separation of families and raised concerns about child rights. In the first four months of 2026 alone, 55% of all deportations in Canada took place in Quebec, a significant increase from previous years. This trend has sparked outrage among refugee advocates and legal experts, who argue that it contradicts Canada's commitment to family reunification and the protection of children's rights.
One of the most alarming cases involves a breastfeeding mother who was detained for weeks without her newborn. This incident highlights the extreme measures being taken by the CBSA, forcing parents to make heart-wrenching decisions about which family member will be deported. The Welcome Collective, a Montreal organization aiding migrants, has seen a surge in cases where one parent faces deportation while the rest of the family remains in Canada. Maryse Poisson, the director of social intervention, described these situations as "extremely dramatic cases of family separation," emphasizing the potential long-term impact on children.
The increase in deportations in Quebec coincides with a hardening of public discourse around asylum seekers in the province. According to Louis-Philippe Jannard, the Quebec network for organizations serving refugees and immigrants, some politicians and commentators have portrayed asylum seekers as the source of societal problems. This political rhetoric may be influencing the CBSA's aggressive removal efforts.
Refugee advocates and legal professionals, including Anne-Cécile Khouri-Raphaël, the vice president of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, argue that the CBSA's actions contradict Canada's legal obligations, particularly those under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Canada's immigration law, which emphasizes family reunification. The intensity of these removals has caught the attention of colleagues in other provinces, who find it unprecedented.
The shortage of refugee lawyers in Quebec is another critical issue. With fewer than 300 refugee lawyers in the entire province, many families struggle to secure legal representation in time for their deportation hearings. This lack of access to legal support exacerbates the challenges faced by those already navigating a complex and emotionally taxing process.
The question of why Quebec is experiencing a surge in family separations remains unanswered. Jannard suggests that the CBSA's Quebec administration may be enforcing tougher removal practices, and there might be a shift in priorities towards targeting failed asylum claims. However, the CBSA has not yet provided a clear explanation for this trend.
The NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice has called for action from the federal government, stating that current immigration policies are deteriorating the refugee protection system. The enactment of a strict asylum law in late March, which retroactively nullifies thousands of refugee claims, has further raised concerns about the treatment of asylum seekers. Canada is currently deporting more people than under the former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, with a record high of 23,160 removals reported last year.
The situation in Quebec highlights the tension between immigration policies and the protection of vulnerable individuals, particularly families. As the CBSA continues to enforce deportations, the impact on children and the broader implications for Canada's reputation as a welcoming nation remain a subject of intense debate and concern.
