Arrests, detentions and removals
Quarterly detention statistics: Fourth quarter (Q4), fiscal year to

CBSA’s statistical publication provides information on detentions.

General detentions

Table 1.1: Detentions as a percentage of entries, by length of detention and by facility, for the 4 quarters of fiscal year to
Quarter Entries by foreign nationals to Canada Total persons detained Total persons in detention (daily average) Detainees as a percentage of entries by foreign nationals to Canada Total detention days Average length of detention Median length of detention Total persons detained in an Immigration Holding Centre (IHC) / percentage of the total detained population Total persons detained in a provincial facility) / percentage of the total detained population Total persons detained in another facility) / percentage of the total detained population
1 9,063,874 2,772 353 0.03% 31,201 11.3 1 2,170 / 67% 645 / 20% 397 / 12%
2 12,423,328 2,578 344 0.02% 30,726 11.9 2 1,972 / 67% 645 / 22% 310 / 11%
3 8,471,716 2,381 332 0.03% 29,503 12.4 2 1,751 / 64% 648 / 23% 358 / 13%
4 4,648,060 2,118 301 0.04% 26,599 12.6 2 1,589 / 64% 576 / 23% 323 / 13%

Source: CIC DWS - Business Reporting CBSA - DHAA Datamart
Note: The numbers presented in each quarter cannot be added together to equal an annual sum. This is because the quarterly numbers reflect the number of people in detention at a given time, and could include a person who is detained over 2 quarters and carried over. Similarly, changes can take place over the time a person is detained that can lead to double-counting in the total number of people in detention by facility type. Individuals can be transferred between facility types, and could therefore be counted in both.
Table 1.2 Persons detained by length of detention
Quarter 24 hours or less 25 to 48 hours 3 to 9 days 10 to 39 days 40 to 99 days Over 99 days
1 1,287 269 467 477 214 112
2 1,155 261 397 518 205 112
3 802 342 498 518 189 103
4 830 248 278 432 207 87
Table 1.3: Persons detained sorted by province
Province First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter
Alberta 67 83 78 70
British Columbia 421 435 398 337
Manitoba 21 30 17 14
New Brunswick 8 6 5 6
Newfoundland and Labrador 1 2 5 4
Northwest Territories 0 0 0 0
Nova Scotia 4 8 10 4
Ontario 1,678 1,455 1,341 1,226
Prince Edward Island 0 1 2 1
Quebec 573 557 517 454
Saskatchewan 5 9 10 5
Yukon 0 0 0 0

Note: The total number of persons, detained by province when added together, is greater than the total number of persons detained in that quarter, as persons may be transferred between provinces during their time in detention. In this instance they are counted twice.
Table 1.4: Persons detained by grounds for detention
Grounds for detention First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter
Danger to the public 25 20 21 18
Examination 76 62 65 69
Identity 181 214 173 138
Security certificate 0 0 0 0
Suspected inadmissibility on grounds of human/international rights violation 2 0 1 1
Suspected Inadmissibility on grounds of security 3 0 3 1
Suspected inadmissibility on grounds of serious criminality/ criminality/organized criminality 12 14 17 16
Unlikely to appear/danger to the public 182 179 168 147
Unlikely to appear 2,310 2,122 1,967 1,761

Note: The total number of persons detained by ground for detention, when added together, is greater than the total number of persons detained in that quarter, as the same person may be detained on multiple grounds for detention.

Grounds for detention

These grounds for detention may apply to a permanent resident or foreign national who may be inadmissible to Canada. Refer to Section 55 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Notes

A fiscal-year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31. Quarters are broken down as follows: First quarter: April 1 to June 30; second quarter July 1 to September 30; third quarter October 1 to December 31; fourth quarter January 1 to March 31.

Detention days are the number of cumulative days spent in detention for all detainees over the reporting period under the provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Median length of detention represents the middle value (or the average of 2 middle values) in  days when the numbers are listed in numerical order from smallest to largest.

"Detention in another facility" includes other law enforcement agencies (that is, RCMP detachments, local and provincial police cells), CBSA ports of entry (POE) and inland enforcement (IE) cells. Note that POE and IE cells as well as other law enforcement agencies' cells are only used for very short periods of time.

More information

Analysis: Detentions in the fourth quarter

The CBSA noted a decrease of 11% in the number of persons detained (2,118) in fourth quarter when compared to third quarter (2,381) of to . This reduction is largely attributable to the measures taken by the Government of Canada due to the Covid-19 pandemic starting in mid-March. The border was closed to most foreign nationals. The decision was later made to direct-back irregular migrants, who attempted to cross between points of entry at the U.S.-Canada border, to the United States.

Despite this 11% reduction, the proportion of persons detained compared to the number of entries by foreign nationals increased to 0.4% compared to 0.03% in third quarter. This increase is attributed to a large reduction in the number of entries by foreign nationals observed in fourth quarter. It is anticipated that the various measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic will have a significant impact on volumes in the next few months, as the entries to Canada are limited and more alternatives to detention are used.

The use of provincial facilities in fourth quarter remained stable at 23%, the same rate of use as the previous quarter. The CBSA continues to use immigration holding centres to detain most of its population (64% of cases in both third quarter and fourth quarter).

Of those detained in fourth quarter, 51% were detained for 48 hours or less. The average length of detention increased slightly to 12.6 days in fourth quarter (was 12.4 days in third quarter). Overall, there was a 10% decrease in total detention days (29,503 days in third quarter and 26,599 days in fourth quarter).

The number of persons detained for over 99 days in fourth quarter dropped to 87 persons. When compared to the same period last year (fourth quarter of  to ), the CBSA noted a decrease of 27% (from 119 to 87) in the number of persons detained over 99 days. The reduction in the number of long-term detainees over the last few years continues to be attributed to a number of operational practices put in place that ensure that the CBSA is actively pursuing removals while also considering other release options.

Detention or housing of minors

Definitions

Best interests of the child:
An international principle to ensure children enjoy the full and effective benefit of all their rights recognized in Canadian law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is also a rule of procedure that includes an assessment of the possible impact (positive or negative) of a decision on the child or children concerned.
Minor:
A person under the age of 18.
Accompanied minor:
A foreign national or permanent resident who arrives to Canada accompanied by a responsible adult (parent, guardian).
Detained minor:
A foreign national or permanent resident who is deemed to be inadmissible and is subject to an Order for Detention under A55 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
Housed minor:
A foreign national, permanent resident or Canadian citizen who, after the completion of a best interest of the child assessment, is kept with their detained parent/legal guardian at an IHC at the latter's request. A housed minor is not subject to an Order for Detention and is free to remain and re-enter the CBSA IHC subject to the parent/legal guardian's consent.
Unaccompanied minor:
A foreign national or permanent resident who arrives to Canada unaccompanied by a responsible adult (parent, guardian) and is not effectively taken into the care of such a person.
Table 2.1: National overview of housed minors by quarter
Quarter Total number of minors housed in a facility Accompanied minors (by parent/guardian) Unaccompanied minors Average length of time in a facility (days) Median length of time in a facility (days)
1 49 49 0 14.1 10
2 52 52 0 16.3 12
3 38 38 0 11.5 9
4 24 24 0 14.6 11

Notes: For more information on the detention or housing of minors see section 6.11 and 6.12 of the Detention Manual (PDF, 848 KB).

The total number of minors in a facility accounts for all minors (foreign nationals, permanent residents and Canadian citizens).
Table 2.2: Housed minors by age, gender and status
Quarter Foreign national Canadian Male Female 0 to 5 years 6 to 11 years 12 to 17 years
1 45 4 21 28 29 13 7
2 52 0 21 31 24 18 10
3 36 2 17 21 23 10 5
4 23 1 13 11 10 6 8
Table 2.3: Housed minors by length of housing and facility type
Quarter Under 48 hours 3 to 9 days 10 to 39 days 40 to 90 days 91 to 180 days More than 181 days Immigration Holding Centre (IHC) Youth centre Other
1 3 15 27 4 0 0 49 0 0
2 4 6 37 4 0 0 52 0 0
3 5 10 22 1 0 0 38 0 0
4 4 6 13 1 0 0 24 0 0

Note: Housing in other facilities includes CBSA ports of entry (POE) and inland enforcement (IE) cells, hospital, etc.  Note that POE and IE cells are only used for very short periods of time.
Table 2.4: Housed minors by detention grounds (of parent/guardian)
Quarter Region Parent/guardian grounds Total
Exam Suspected of serious criminality, criminality, organized crime Unlikely to appear Identity
1 Quebec 0 0 7 40 47
GTA 0 0 0 0 0
Pacific 0 0 2 0 2
2 Quebec 1 2 3 45 51
GTA 0 0 0 0 0
Pacific 0 0 1 0 1
3 Quebec 0 0 11 26 37
GTA 0 0 0 0 0
Pacific 0 0 1 0 1
4 Quebec 0 0 5 17 22
GTA 0 0 0 0 0
Pacific 0 0 1 1 2
Table 2.5: National overview of detained minors
Quarter Total number of minors detained in a facility Accompanied minors (by parent/guardian) Unaccompanied minors Average length of time in a facility (days) Median length of time in a facility (days)
1 0 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 0 0 0
3 1 0 1 1 1
4 1 0 1 4 4

Notes: For more information on the detention or housing of minors see section 6.11 and 6.12 of the Detention Manual (PDF, 848 KB).

The total number of minors in a facility accounts for all minors (foreign nationals, permanent residents and Canadian citizens).
Table 2.6: Detained minors by status, gender and age
Quarter Foreign national Canadian Male Female 0 to 5 years 6 to 11 years 12 to 17 years
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 1 0 1 0 0 0 1
4 1 0 1 0 0 0 1

Note: A Canadian citizen cannot be detained but in rare and exceptional circumstances may be housed with a parent/legal guardian in a facility if it is in the best interests of the child.
Table 2.7: Detained minors by length of detention and facility type
Quarter Under 48 hours 3 to 9 days 10 to 39 days 40 to 90 days 91 to 180 days More than 181 days Immigration Holding Centre (IHC) Youth centre Other
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Note: Detentions in other facilities includes CBSA ports of entry (POE) and inland enforcement (IE) cells, hospital, etc.  Note that POE and IE cells are only used for very short periods of time.
Table 2.8: Detained minors by detention grounds
Quarter Region Grounds Total
Exam Suspected of serious criminality, criminality, organized crime Unlikely to appear Identity
1 Quebec 0 0 0 0 0
GTA 0 0 0 0 0
Pacific 0 0 0 0 0
2 Quebec 0 0 0 0 0
GTA 0 0 0 0 0
Pacific 0 0 0 0 0
3 Quebec 0 0 0 0 0
GTA 0 0 0 0 0
Pacific 0 0 1 0 1
4 Quebec 0 0 0 0 0
GTA 0 0 0 0 0
Pacific 0 0 1 0 1

Analysis: Detention or housing of minors in the fourth quarter

In accordance with the CBSA's National Immigration Detention Framework and the National Directive for the Detention or Housing of Minors, the number of minors housed with their parents or legal guardian went down by 37% when compared to third quarter (24 in fourth quarter, 38 in third quarter). When compared to the same quarter last year, we observe the exact same number of minors housed, which can be explained by a consistently lower flow of migrants arriving to Canada during the winter months.

Of all minors housed, 75% were accompanying a parent or legal guardian detained on the ground of identity. This is consistent with the constant flow of persons entering Canada between ports of entry and who may not have identity documents. The remaining 25% were accompanying a parent or legal guardian who was detained as they were deemed to be unlikely to appear for a proceeding.

There was 1 minor detained in the Pacific Region for 4 days. This minor was unaccompanied and was detained as he was unlikely to appear for his proceeding. After the proceeding, the minor was then released and removed from Canada. With the exception of 2 minors housed in the Pacific region, the Quebec region housed the majority of minors in fourth quarter (22). Of those minors housed in Quebec in fourth quarter, 50%, or 12, arrived between the ports of entry. Nationally, Quebec continued to see the largest number of irregular arrivals (adults and minors), receiving 94% of all entries between POEs across the country.

The average length of time a minor spent in a facility (either housed or detained) increased by 3 days to 14.2 days in fourth quarter compared to 11.2 days in third quarter. This increase is resultant from the lower proportion of minors housed in fourth quarter when compared to third quarter. As volumes are reduced, the proportionate calculation of the average length of detention may increase.

Annual and previous quarterly statistics

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