Canada’s efforts to remove foreign nationals linked to a surge in extortion cases in British Columbia have been slowed after more than a dozen individuals under immigration enforcement sought refugee protection. The Canada Border Services Agency says 14 people identified through provincial law enforcement investigations have filed claims with the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board, a step that automatically pauses deportation while those claims are assessed.

The cases emerged from investigations by the B.C. Extortion Task Force, a joint initiative involving the RCMP and other policing and immigration partners. Individuals flagged through the task force were subsequently investigated by the border agency for possible immigration inadmissibility. Once those proceedings began, refugee claims were submitted, shifting the cases into the federal refugee determination system.

Canadian law requires that refugee claims be heard unless an applicant is ruled ineligible on grounds such as serious criminality. The Immigration and Refugee Board has the authority to deny protection where inadmissibility is established, but until a decision is made, removal orders cannot be enforced by the border agency.

These requirements flow from Canada’s international obligations under the Refugee Convention, including the principle of non-refoulement, which bars the return of individuals to countries where they face a substantial risk of persecution, torture, or death. As a result, removals are legally suspended once a claim is filed, regardless of public concern or ongoing investigations.

Legal observers note that refugee proceedings can extend for years because of backlogs and procedural safeguards, effectively delaying enforcement even in cases tied to serious allegations. At the same time, federal and provincial officials have identified deportation as one element of broader efforts to disrupt extortion networks targeting members of the South Asian business community in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland and parts of Ontario.

CBSA data indicate there are dozens of active investigations connected to organized extortion, along with removal orders that have either been issued or carried out. The Immigration and Refugee Board does not comment publicly on individual cases and details of the claims remain confidential while hearings are underway.

The situation has drawn attention to systemic pressures within both the immigration and justice systems. Backlogs, limited use of expedited inadmissibility processes and lengthy criminal investigations have contributed to perceptions that enforcement tools are slow to respond to public safety concerns. When serious allegations do not translate into timely charges or decisions, confidence in the system can erode.

Allowing individuals accused of serious, violent criminal activity to delay removal through refugee claims has raised questions about whether the system is functioning as intended. Critics argue the issue points less to compassion than to structural failure, where procedural delays and limited enforcement tools undermine public safety and erode confidence that the framework can respond decisively to serious criminal conduct.