Canada is expanding the capacity of its immigration-enforcement system as the federal government reduces temporary-resident numbers and changes parts of its asylum process. For immigrants, the practical question is often more specific than the political headline: what kind of order has been issued, whether it is enforceable, and whether a legal protection or review is still available.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says $30.4 million has been allocated through the Border Plan to strengthen its ability to complete 20,000 removals annually in the 2026–27 fiscal year. That is a capacity target, not a statement that every person with an immigration problem will be deported.
What is confirmed
Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act allows removal when a person is found inadmissible or when an immigration or refugee claim has been refused and the relevant order becomes enforceable. CBSA is responsible for carrying out removals; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Immigration and Refugee Board handle other parts of the process.
The government’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan also says the total temporary-resident population is intended to fall below 5% of Canada’s population by the end of 2027. That policy goal may affect future admissions and status decisions, but it is not itself a deportation order.
A removal order is not always an immediate departure
Canadian guidance distinguishes between a departure order, a deportation order and other forms of removal order. The document a person receives, the deadline it contains and whether an appeal or stay applies can change what happens next.
A person who has received a notice should read the exact document, keep every deadline and seek advice from a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer or authorised consultant. Vida Digital cannot assess an individual case and readers should not rely on a general article as legal advice.
Risk review and protection claims
In some circumstances, a person may be eligible for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA). The assessment considers whether returning someone would expose them to persecution, torture or a risk to life or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. Eligibility depends on the person’s history and the stage of the case.
A PRRA is not automatic for every person facing removal. The government’s guidance says that people who receive a PRRA application package must follow the instructions and deadlines; missing a deadline can affect the application and the timing of removal.
What remains uncertain
The 20,000 figure is a government planning target, not a forecast of how many immigrants will be removed from any particular nationality, city or immigration category. Individual outcomes depend on admissibility findings, documents, appeals, risk assessments and the cooperation of destination countries.
The government has also said that some removals can be paused when conditions in a country create a generalised risk. In March 2026, CBSA announced temporary administrative deferrals for removals to Israel and Lebanon; such measures are country-specific and can be reviewed as conditions change.
A practical checklist
- Identify the document you received and whether it says the order is enforceable.
- Write down every appeal, review, interview and departure deadline.
- Keep copies of passports, applications, decisions, identity documents and proof of family or medical circumstances.
- Get advice from an authorised Canadian immigration professional before making a decision about departure or a protection application.
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