Canada’s immigration authorities have begun notifying roughly 30,000 refugee claimants that they may not be eligible for asylum hearings, following the implementation of new federal legislation that changes how refugee claims are assessed. The letters, issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, inform applicants that their cases could be ruled ineligible under updated rules introduced through Bill C-12.
Officials clarified that the notices are procedural fairness letters rather than deportation orders. They are intended to give applicants an opportunity to submit additional evidence or explanations before a final decision is made about whether their claims can proceed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. However, the scale of the letters has raised concern among refugee advocates and legal experts.
The new legislation introduces stricter timelines for filing refugee claims. Individuals who entered Canada and waited more than one year before submitting their asylum applications may now be blocked from having their cases referred to the Refugee Protection Division. The rule applies retroactively to entries dating back to June 24, 2020, and affects claims submitted on or after June 3, 2025.
Immigration lawyers say replacing in-person hearings with written submissions such as pre-removal risk assessments could make it harder for applicants to fully explain their situations. Legal representatives have also reported cases where members of the same family received different eligibility decisions, raising concerns about fairness and consistency under the new framework.
Some applicants have received stronger notices stating their claims are already ineligible and advising them to leave Canada immediately or risk deportation proceedings. Lawyers caution that individuals may still have the constitutional right to request a pre-removal risk assessment before departure, and they warn that confusion around the process could leave some claimants uncertain about their legal options or status.
