Canada deports nearly 2,000 Indian nationals last year, marking a record high. According to data provided to the media by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), 1,932 Indian nationals were removed in 2024, a significant increase of over 50% compared to the 1,129 deported in 2023. Indians represented 11.5% of all removals in 2024, up from 7.5% in the previous year, and more than triple the 625 recorded in 2019, when they accounted for 5.6% of the total.
Overall, CBSA removals increased from 15,124 in 2023 to 16,781 in 2024. The highest number of deportations was from Mexico, with 3,286 nationals removed in 2023 and 3,579 in 2024.
CBSA spokesperson Jacqueline Roby emphasized the importance of timely removals in maintaining the integrity of Canada’s immigration system. High-priority cases involve security threats, organized crime, human rights violations, and criminality. The agency ensures procedural fairness, acting on removal orders only after all legal options are exhausted.
Roby highlighted the CBSA’s obligation to remove inadmissible foreign nationals under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) as soon as possible. Although deported individuals can attempt to return to Canada, the process will become more costly starting this spring.
As of April, under a new cost recovery framework, fees for returning deportees will increase significantly. Escorted removals will cost over 12,800 Canadian dollars ($8,833), and unescorted removals will cost over $3,800 Canadian dollars ($2,622). Previously, these fees were approximately 1,500 Canadian dollars ($1,035). Individuals are responsible for their travel costs, but if they cannot or will not pay, the CBSA covers the expenses and seeks to recover them when the individual applies to return to Canada.
The total cost of removal includes expenses for airline tickets, interviews, travel documents, case management, and coordination efforts. On average, the Canadian government recovers around 497,100 Canadian dollars ($343,052) annually from deportees who seek to return.
