Overview
- The Canada Border Services Agency confirmed that 15 foreign nationals facing extortion charges have applied for refugee status in Canada.
- CBSA says eligible asylum claims must be heard, but it can ask the Refugee Board to suspend proceedings if individuals are ineligible on serious or organized criminality grounds, and those found inadmissible will be ordered removed.
- B.C. officials, including Solicitor General Nina Krieger, urged expedited hearings and stronger tools to prevent suspected organized criminals from using refugee claims to delay removal.
- Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke condemned the use of refugee claims by suspects and cited 106 extortion cases in her city this year, calling for immediate federal changes to immigration and deportation laws.
- Federal officials announced more than $1 million for a B.C. task force investigating the Lower Mainland extortion cases, which police and experts link to transnational networks reported to include the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.