The governments of Quebec and New Brunswick have told the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) they will stop incarcerating migrants detained for administrative reasons, Radio-Canada/CBC has confirmed.
Seven provinces have now cancelled their contracts with CBSA under which they were paid to imprison foreign nationals detained under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
“It is excellent news,” said Montreal immigration lawyer Chantal Ianniciello, who represents many detained migrants. “It is not a place suited to their needs”.
Ianniciello said when migrants are cut off from the world and put in jail alongside criminals it creates “a lot of psychological stress.”
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CBSA can detain migrants if it