Rise in Irish removed from Canada
Statistics from the Canada Border Services Agency shows that, last year, 57 Irish people were deported from the country, compared with 26 in 2011.
Canada has increasingly become one of the main destinations for Irish people seeking temporary work overseas or emigrating.
A CBSA spokesperson said 21 Irish citizens were removed from the country in 2011 for non-compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, while others were removed for criminality and misrepresentation.
Last year, 45 of the Irish citizens deported from Canada were removed for non-compliance with the IRPA, while others were removed from the country for criminality or financial or health reasons.
However, to date no Irish citizens have departed Canada under its Assisted Voluntary Returns and Reintegration pilot programme, which was launched on June 29 last year and which aims to encourage the voluntary return of people, including low-risk failed refugee claimants.
The CBSA spokesperson said: “It is important to note that everyone ordered removed from Canada is entitled to due process, which may include various levels of appeal, including judicial review. Once due process is complete, persons are expected to abide by our laws and leave Canada, or be removed.”
The CBSA said the cost of deporting someone can be as little as C$100 (€73.25) for a land removal to the US, while a removal that requires escort officers on a commercial plane costs on average C$15,000 and an unescorted removal averages C$1,500.
