A Lack of Resources for Immigration Enforcement

Immigration overwhelmed by crime files -- Warrants untouched Adrian Humphreys, May 20, 05

The vast majority of arrest warrants issued in Canada against foreign nationals -- including those wanted for serious criminality -- are not assigned for active investigation because of a lack of resources for immigration enforcement, newly disclosed documents show.

Of 22,027 warrants issued through the Greater Toronto Enforcement Centre, only 146 were assigned for active investigation at the time a government report was prepared in June, 2003.

[. . . . ] It says 15,000 people who are not Canadian citizens but are facing criminal charges are referred to immigration officials each year by Toronto police alone.

Of those, 30% result in detailed court-tracking or immediate arrest by immigration.

"This document plainly sets out that they are under-resourced," said Richard Kurland, a Vancouver immigration lawyer. [. . . . ]