How Many People Are Flagged for Terrorism Concerns by Canada’s Border Security?

A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) patch is seen on a CBSA officer’s uniform in Tsawwassen, B.C., on Dec. 16, 2022. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

Canada’s security screening process for immigration has been under scrutiny since the recent arrests of multiple immigrants for alleged terrorist plots.

These high-profile suspects were admitted into Canada, but many others have been flagged as potential security concerns. The Epoch Times asked the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) how many prospective immigrants have been turned away due to terrorism concerns.

The agency didn’t have a simple number, but did paint a picture of thousands of criminals trying to enter Canada last year alone. Hundreds of them were flagged for links to organized crime and “security threats,” which include terrorism and espionage.

The Numbers

CBSA said it found more than 3,500 individuals suspected of “serious inadmissibility” in 2023.

Serious inadmissibility covers security threats (terrorism among them), human rights violations, criminality, and organized crime, as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Another 37,000 were “believed to be inadmissible” by an officer at a port of entry, but chose to withdraw their applications and leave instead of being referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board. CBSA could not provide much detail about these cases or the reasons for inadmissibility, but said some reasons could include health or financial concerns.

Of the 3,500 suspected of being seriously inadmissible, 76 percent were flagged for serious criminality, which includes crimes with a prison sentence of at least 10 years. Another 14 percent were flagged for lesser criminality, 6 percent specifically for organized criminality, 3 percent for “security” (not further defined), and 1 percent for human rights violations or war crimes.

That’s as detailed as CBSA could get when asked for the number of cases related to terrorism concerns specifically.

The agency also completed security screening for more than 38,000 permanent or temporary resident application cases in 2023, and found approximately 800 of them were inadmissible “on grounds of security, human or international rights violations or organized crime.”

CBSA blocked another 7,500 people from flying to Canada by intervening with airlines and recommending the passengers not be allowed to board flights. CBSA uses data sources, such as the Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Data, to identify high-risk individuals abroad before they board flights to Canada, the agency said.

Three immigrants have been identified on Canadian soil as “inadmissible” for engaging in terrorism since 2021. CBSA could not provide further detail on these cases, nor say whether they refer to the three high-profile cases this year.

Foiled Plots

Two Toronto men, a father and son from Egypt, were arrested on July 28 for an alleged terrorist plot on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). A House of Commons public safety committee began in August to investigate the timeline of their immigration screening and approval.

The committee heard that Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, the father, came to Canada in 2018 with a temporary resident visa and made an asylum claim a few months later. He passed security screening and was granted refugee status. He became a citizen earlier this year.

At issue during the committee’s discussion was a 2015 ISIS propaganda video that allegedly shows Eldidi dismembering a prisoner with a sword. CBSA Executive Vice-President Ted Gallivan told MPs his organization obtained a copy of the video from the dark web after recent media reports about it. The video was not available to CBSA when Eldidi was being screened, he said.

Eldidi’s son, Mostafa Eldidi, arrived in 2020 at a U.S. border crossing, and made an asylum claim in Canada. He was granted refugee status in 2022, but few other details have been released due to a publication ban.

“I’m as disgusted as any Canadian, but I have a responsibility to get to the bottom of it, and I will,” federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller said about the incident during an Aug. 14 news conference.

Ahmed Mostafa Eldidi (L) is seen in a courtroom sketch with his son, Mostafa Eldidi, as they appeared via video for a hearing in Newmarket, Ont., on Aug. 1, 2024. Alexandra Newbould/The Canadian Press

Muhammad Shahzeb Khan is shown in an undated handout image. The Canadian Press/HO - Quebec Superior Court

Another alleged terrorist was arrested in Quebec on Sept. 4. Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a Pakistani national, allegedly planned to target a Jewish centre in New York City on the Oct. 7 anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

Miller has said Khan entered Canada on a student visa. An immigration consultant who had worked with Khan, named Fazal Qadeer, said Khan was applying for asylum on the basis of sexual orientation as a gay man, CBC has reported.

Miller told the House public safety committee in September that he remains confident in Canada’s immigration screening.

US ‘Watchlist’ Encounters

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported nearly 490 encounters last year with people on its terrorism watchlist crossing from Canada.

That’s the highest number since 2017, the earliest year for which data is provided on the agency’s website.

That number was 313 in fiscal year 2022 and sits at 358 so far for fiscal year 2024. The numbers fluctuated between roughly 50 and 260 from 2017 to 2021.

Surge in Immigration, Screenings

The increased volume of immigration in Canada has brought with it a surge in required security screenings.

CSIS said in its 2023 annual report that it received 493,200 security screening referrals that year. CSIS and CSBA work together to advise Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regarding national security threats. IRCC makes the final decision on the case.

Most of the requests were for citizenship applications (296,300), followed by refugees (128,900), temporary residents (46,400), and permanent residents (21,600).

CSIS said in its report that the rapid increase in asylum claimants over the past five years is “creating pressures at ports of entry and leading to delays in process and other strains on the asylum system.”

The Epoch Times asked CSIS in August whether the increased workload is straining the agency’s resources. A spokesperson said the agency can’t discuss internal resource allocations.

Former CSIS intelligence analyst Phil Gurski told The Epoch Times the agency is likely stretched.

“I don’t think they have the resources to do a full background check on everybody that the government was seeking to bring into Canada,” he said.

CBSA said it examines all travellers seeking to enter Canada and works closely with domestic and international law enforcement to identify any threats.

“Canadians can be confident that Canada’s law enforcement and security agencies investigate and respond to potential threats,” CBSA said. “We will always take the necessary action to keep Canadians and those on Canadian soil safe.”

Noé Chartier contributed to this report.