October 8, 2013

Information – sharing between Canada and the U.S

Ottawa and Washington are reinforcing border security by sharing personal information of immigration and refugee applications.  Authorities in both countries will create a computer database and infrastructure capable of exchanging electronic queries on applications made by nationals of a third country and refugee status claimants to Canada.

Immigration information sharing has been effective in that it has helped catch foreign nationals using false identities, inadmissible criminals attempting to enter Canada, fraudulent refugee claimants and individuals providing information on their immigration application that was not credible.

The proposed regulations are expected to result in an increase in the number of refugee claimants identified as ineligible, a decrease in the volume of crime and a decrease in detention and removal costs. This info-sharing scheme is estimated to save Canada $42 million over 10 years.