In an unprecedented move reflecting the volatile situation in the Middle East, Canadian officials have suspended all removals and deportations to Israel amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The decision, confirmed Tuesday by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), marks a significant shift in Canada’s immigration enforcement approach as the region teeters on the brink of wider conflict.
“The Administrative Deferral of Removals (ADR) for Israel has been triggered due to the ongoing security situation in the region,” a CBSA spokesperson told CO24 News. “This temporary measure will remain in place until conditions stabilize and the safety of those being returned can be reasonably assured.”
The suspension comes in the wake of Iran’s missile attack against Israel earlier this month, which saw more than 300 projectiles launched toward Israeli territory. This assault, unprecedented in scale, represented the first direct military confrontation between the two regional powers after decades of proxy warfare and heightened rhetoric.
Immigration experts note that ADRs are typically implemented when extraordinary circumstances make deportations potentially dangerous or inhumane. Dr. Elaine Wong, professor of international migration at the University of Toronto, explained to CO24: “These deferrals serve as a humanitarian safeguard when conflict zones become too volatile. The government essentially acknowledges that returning individuals to such environments could place them in immediate danger.”
The deferral does not apply to individuals deemed inadmissible to Canada on grounds of security, human rights violations, organized crime, or those who pose a danger to the public. Such exceptions underscore Canada’s commitment to both humanitarian considerations and national security interests.
This is not the first time Canada has implemented such measures. Similar deferrals have been put in place for countries experiencing severe civil unrest, natural disasters, or armed conflict. In 2022, removals to Ukraine were suspended following Russia’s invasion, while similar measures have previously affected Afghanistan, Syria, and parts of Somalia.
The timing of this decision coincides with intensifying diplomatic efforts from Canadian officials to promote de-escalation in the Middle East. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has been engaged in multilateral discussions aimed at preventing further escalation between Israel and Iran, emphasizing Canada’s stance that “a wider regional war benefits no one.”
For the approximately 240,000 Canadians who identify as Jewish and the 210,000 of Iranian heritage, the pause represents more than just administrative policy—it reflects the deep connections many Canadians maintain with the region and their concerns about loved ones caught in the crossfire.
Immigration lawyers across the country have reported a surge in inquiries from individuals with pending deportation orders to Israel, seeking clarification about their status under the new directive. Liam Goldstein, an immigration attorney in Montreal, told CO24: “Many of my clients expressed immediate relief upon hearing the news. The uncertainty surrounding the conflict had created significant anxiety about potential returns to an increasingly dangerous situation.”
The CBSA has not provided a timeline for how long the deferral might remain in place, indicating only that regular assessments of the security situation will determine when normal removal operations can resume. The agency emphasized that all other immigration enforcement activities continue unaffected by this specific regional pause.
As world leaders continue urgent diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation, Canadians are left to wonder: in a region where conflict has persisted for generations, can this latest confrontation between Israel and Iran be contained, or are we witnessing the opening stages of a much broader and potentially catastrophic regional war?
