In a rare move, Canada’s Border Services Agency (CBSA) opened the doors to its immigration detention centre located in Toronto’s west end, inviting media representatives, including The Canadian Press, to witness the conditions faced by detainees. This unprecedented invitation came on March 25, 2025, allowing the public to gain insight into how Canada handles individuals detained under immigration laws.
One notable individual at the centre, Osama Al-Hadad, recounted his experience as an asylum seeker who fled war-torn Yemen. Upon arriving at Toronto's Pearson airport, Al-Hadad was taken into custody due to a lack of documentation proving his identity. After spending over a month in the immigration holding centre, he was released on February 19, 2025, once his identity was verified. Describing his time in detention, Al-Hadad stated, “They cared about our health, our food and drinks, our daily routine, providing all our needs. They make you feel human.” His perspective highlights the more humane approach to immigration detention compared to the ongoing practices in the United States.
The Toronto immigration holding centre, which has the capacity to accommodate 195 individuals, is the largest of three such facilities in Canada. The others are located in Laval, Quebec, and Surrey, B.C., housing 150 and 70 detainees, respectively. In total, more than 4,000 detentions were recorded across these facilities between 2023 and 2024. Interestingly, nearly 13,000 individuals were enrolled in an alternative to detention program in the same period.
Sajjad Bhatti, the director of immigration enforcement operations, clarified that the detention of foreign nationals is not intended to be punitive. “Most people there are being held due to identity or flight risk issues,” Bhatti mentioned, which also includes individuals with criminal convictions posing significant risks to public safety. Despite these claims of humane treatment, concerns remain. Robert Israel Blanshay, an immigration lawyer who has represented CBSA detainees for over a decade, pointed out, “Nobody likes being in detention,” emphasizing the need for timely access to legal support. He argued that those lacking proper documentation should not be in the same facility as individuals with serious criminal charges.
The tour of the facility showcased a stark contrast to the aggressive immigration policies currently employed in the United States. Reports have emerged concerning foreign nationals detained in minimal-access facilities where they face neglect and lack of legal assistance. This is a juxtaposition to the Toronto holding centre, which features a library, a multi-faith prayer room, and weekly yoga classes. Al-Hadad's assertions about the conditions echo positive sentiments from other detainees. “I was surprised by the good treatment, how they treated us,” he shared during the media visit.
The immigration holding centre aims to ensure detainees are treated with respect and dignity. Following medical assessments, detainees are provided meals, clothing, and appropriate necessities upon entry. They undergo an admissibility hearing after 48 hours to determine their status. Bhatti reported that an average detainee spends about 15 days in the centre, with an appeal process for deportation that can take months if the individual contests their removal.
As of December 2024, about 485,395 foreigners were listed on CBSA’s removal inventory, subjected to proceedings for deportation. Notably, Canada deported 16,860 foreigners in 2024, marking an increase of nearly 11 percent from the previous year. The federal government plans to heighten removals by 25 percent over the next three years, further intensifying efforts in immigration enforcement.
The deteriorating conditions and treatment within the U.S. detention facilities amplify the focus on Canada’s more compassionate methods. The invitation to the media to observe conditions at the Toronto holding centre indicates a growing transparency about Canada's immigration policies. During the tour, a small group of women engaged in light conversation in one of the dormitories, embodying the atmosphere of relative comfort within the facility.
This notable transparency aims to shed light on how Canada navigates the complexities of immigration enforcement while emphasizing the humane treatment of detainees. As reports circulate regarding abuses in U.S. facilities, the CBSA’s facilities stand as a contrasting example. However, the precarious balance between enforcement and humanity, as pointed out by advocates and legal representatives, remains a continual challenge.
“It's unfathomable,” Blanshay declared when discussing the detention of minors, stating that no child should ever be held in detention. The declining number of minors being detained at these facilities is a positive sign, but the continued existence of their detention underscores the ongoing debate around immigration policy. The CBSA acknowledged that while they have detained minors, this is a measure of absolute last resort.
As Canada plans to ramp up its immigration removals in response to external pressures, including legislation from the U.S., the implications on human rights and judicial processes will increasingly become a focus for advocates and observers alike. The conditions and procedures at the immigration holding centre may well serve as a critical indicator of Canada’s commitment to humane treatment amidst evolving policies.
