Quarterly detention statistics: Fourth quarter (Q4) fiscal year 2020 to 2021

Canada Border Services Agency (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

Quarter	Entries by foreign nationals to Canada	Total persons detained	Total persons in detention (daily average)	Detainees as a % 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 (number and %)	Total persons detained in a provincial facility (number and %)	Total persons detained in another facility (number and %)
1	518,508	453	126	0.09	11,323	25.0	9	173 (34%)	287 (56%)	52 (10%)
2	851,555	476	131	0.05	11,925	25.1	9	223 (39%)	275 (48%)	71 (13%)
3	807,571	566	135	0.07	12,299	21.7	7	300 (45%)	285 (43%)	79 (12%)
4	802,825	565	146	0.07	12,964	22.9	8	317 (50%)	258 (41%)	59 (9%)
Source: IRCC 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. Previous quarter totals may be slightly inflated due to late entry of release date in the system.

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	62	29	77	113	98	85
2	60	38	113	134	83	57
3	119	42	117	152	92	59
4	95	50	145	134	97	63

Table 1.3: Persons detained sorted by province

Province	First quarter	Second quarter	Third quarter	Fourth quarter
Alberta	34	31	41	45
British Columbia	64	94	112	121
Manitoba	6	6	8	7
New Brunswick	6	5	3	2
Newfoundland and Labrador	0	6	7	3
Northwest Territories	0	0	0	0
Nova Scotia	1	5	9	7
Ontario	248	249	293	293
Prince Edward Island	1	1	0	0
Quebec	90	71	90	87
Saskatchewan	5	13	9	3
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	14	14	12	11
Examination	11	5	7	9
Identity	16	11	25	13
Security certificate	0	0	0	0
Suspected inadmissibility on grounds of human/international rights violation	0	0	0	0
Suspected inadmissibility on grounds of security	0	2	0	0
Suspected inadmissibility on grounds of serious criminality / criminality / organized criminality	5	5	4	4
Unlikely to appear / danger to the public	77	84	106	94
Unlikely to appear	340	369	420	443
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).

• Examination (If an officer considers it is necessary to get more information from an individual in order to complete the examination, that individual could be detained to allow the officer to do so. An examination can be as simple as a few questions, but can also include an examination of the person's personal belongings, more intensive questioning, or personal searches.)
• Suspected of serious criminality, criminality or organized criminality
• Suspected inadmissibility on grounds of security
• Suspected inadmissibility on grounds of human/international rights violation
• Identity (If an officer is unable to verify an individual's identity, that person may be detained.)
• Danger to the public
• Unlikely to appear (A person may be detained if an officer believes the person is unlikely to appear for examination, an admissibility hearing, removal from Canada or at a proceeding that could lead to the making of a removal order.)

Notes

A fiscal-year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31. Quarters are broken down as follows: Q1: April 1 to June 30; Q2 July 1 to September 30; Q3 October 1 to December 31; Q4 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 two 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, Royal Canadian Mounted Police 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

• National Immigration Detention Framework outlines the CBSA's approach to making the Canadian immigration detention system better and fairer.
• Arrests, detentions and removals describes where people are detained, information about the detention review process, and more.
• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations contain additional information including the legislative grounds for detention.

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)	Average length of time in a facility (days)	Median length of time in a facility (days)
1	1	1	2	2
2	4	4	11.5	5
3	0	0	0	0
4	0	0	0	0
Notes: For more information on the detention or housing of minors, consult the Detention Manual (ENF 20). The total number of minors in a facility accounts for all minors (foreign nationals, permanent residents and Canadian citizens). The numbers presented in each quarter cannot be added together to equal an annual sum. This is because the quarterly numbers reflect the number minor in a facility at a given time, and could include a person who is housed over 2 quarters and carried over.

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	1	0	0	1	0	1	0
2	4	0	3	1	1	2	1
3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Note: The minor housed in Quebec Inland Office cell has been carried over to the 2nd Quarter, therefore the total has a difference of one minor in the year to date total.

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	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
2	0	3	1	0	0	0	3	0	1
3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	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

Region	Exam	Suspected of serious criminality, criminality, organized crime	Unlikely to appear	Identity	Total
Quarter 1
Quebec	0	0	1	0	1
GTA	0	0	0	0	0
Pacific	0	0	0	0	0
Quarter 2
Quebec	0	0	1	0	1
GTA	0	0	0	0	0
Pacific	0	0	3	0	3
Quarter 3
Quebec	0	0	0	0	0
GTA	0	0	0	0	0
Pacific	0	0	0	0	0
Quarter 4
Quebec	0	0	0	0	0
GTA	0	0	0	0	0
Pacific	0	0	0	0	0

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	0	0	0	0	0
4	0	0	0	0	0
Note: For more information on the detention or housing of minors, consult the Detention Manual (ENF 20). 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	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
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	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
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

Region	Exam	Suspected of serious criminality, criminality, organized crime	Unlikely to appear	Identity	Total
Quarter 1
Quebec	0	0	0	0	0
GTA	0	0	0	0	0
Pacific	0	0	0	0	0
Quarter 2
Quebec	0	0	0	0	0
GTA	0	0	0	0	0
Pacific	0	0	0	0	0
Quarter 3
Quebec	0	0	0	0	0
GTA	0	0	0	0	0
Pacific	0	0	0	0	0
Quarter 4
Quebec	0	0	0	0	0
GTA	0	0	0	0	0
Pacific	0	0	0	0	0
Source: IRCC DWS – Business Reporting CBSA – DHAA Datamart