Walid Kabil’s desperate attempt to escape deportation from Germany by hiding on a westbound freighter under the cargo cover of a new BMW proved to be ill-conceived. Lacking sufficient supplies, space, and comfort, he found himself in a dire situation during the April voyage. Fearing return to Morocco due to his political activism, he sought help from the ship’s crew upon reaching Halifax, Nova Scotia, only to be handed over to Canadian border authorities and sent to a provincial jail filled with individuals accused of violent crimes.
Despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s public statements welcoming those fleeing persecution, terror, and war, the reality for asylum seekers like Mr. Kabil in Canada is often harsh. Detention of asylum seekers is justified by government officials as a means to control undocumented migration, but critics argue that it is used too frequently and should be reserved for cases where there is a genuine risk to public safety.
The issue of detaining asylum seekers while they await the processing of their claims raises questions about Canada’s self-image as a welcoming nation to migrants. With a decline in refugee claims filed in the previous fiscal year, some provinces, like Quebec, have expressed concerns about the strain on resources caused by the influx of asylum seekers.
Mr. Kabil’s experience in detention, although ultimately resulting in refugee status, highlights the challenges faced by asylum seekers in Canada. With calls from human rights groups to reduce detentions and improve oversight of the immigration detention system, the treatment of asylum seekers remains a contentious issue in the country.