Nigerian, Mexican, Indian, and Haitian nationals make up the largest groups of people facing deportation from Canada in 2025, according to new data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Many of these individuals have not attended immigration hearings or are working in underground economies as the agency steps up enforcement efforts nationwide.
According to Immigration News Canada (INC) Agency, the CBSA’s expanded operations come amid growing concerns over irregular migration, illegal employment, and a backlog of more than 29,000 people who remain unaccounted for despite deportation orders.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has committed $617.7 million to hire 1,000 new CBSA officers to address these issues and strengthen border controls.
Mexicans Lead Deportation Cases, Nigerians Among Top Groups
CBSA data show that Mexicans lead with 7,622 unresolved deportation cases, followed by Indian, Nigerian, and Haitian nationals. Many of these individuals reportedly did not appear for hearings or have found informal work in sectors such as construction, hospitality, and agriculture.
Officials say the agency faces major challenges in tracking people who overstay visas or disappear after removal orders. Ontario and Quebec have the highest numbers of untracked cases, with 21,325 and 6,109 respectively.
Over 600 individuals in the backlog have prior criminal convictions. The CBSA has introduced new monitoring measures, including electronic tracking for low-risk cases and artificial intelligence tools to verify documents.
CBSA Expands Raids and Inspections Across Canada
Reports inform that the CBSA has launched more workplace raids, inter-agency operations, and site inspections to locate undocumented workers and enforce immigration laws.
In 2024, the agency completed 16,470 deportations, a 25 percent increase from the previous year—and plans to raise that number to 20,000 per year by 2027.
Major 2025 operations include:
GTA Mailbox Fraud Sting (October 2025): Eight people were arrested in a Peel-Halton-Canada Post investigation involving $400,000 in stolen mail. CBSA has linked the case to foreign nationals working illegally.
Calgary Construction Raids (October 2025): More than 40 undocumented workers were detained during early morning inspections at construction sites.
Montreal Smuggling Case (March 2025): Twenty-five workers were arrested in a hospitality sector raid connected to a human smuggling network.
Ontario Employment Crackdown (February 2025): Three companies were fined for employing over 700 undocumented workers in landscaping services.
Legal Options for Affected Migrants
Out-of-status migrants—those whose permits have expired or who work without authorization—face the risk of detention and deportation if discovered. Lawyers advise such individuals to seek legal help immediately.
Options include applying for implied status, Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds, or Temporary Resident Permits.
Those experiencing exploitation can report violations anonymously to CBSA’s Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060. Free legal support is also available through organizations such as Legal Aid Ontario and the FCJ Refugee Centre.
Canada’s Immigration System Faces Pressure
The government’s intensified enforcement comes as Canada manages over 2 million temporary residents and growing pressure on housing and social systems. While officials say the measures are needed to maintain order, critics argue for more balanced approaches, including possible regularization programs.
As CBSA strengthens its operations, nationals from Mexico, India, Nigeria, and Haiti remain at the centre of Canada’s 2025 deportation backlog.
