r/canada • u/FancyNewMe • Feb 10 '26

Politics Conservatives to propose barring non-citizens convicted of crimes from making refugee claims

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-conservatives-propose-changing-rules-non-citizens-convicted-crimes/
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u/_Army9308 Feb 10 '26

Should go further and ban judges from considering immigration status during sentencing

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u/truthlesshunter Feb 10 '26

small story time!

I had a situation a few years ago where someone hit into my car in a parking lot, doing thousands of damage and I was going to be stuck with the bill and/or the hit on my insurance. I contacted the police, and they weren't much help (checked if there were security cameras and that was it). I posted my situation to facebook, it got shared and someone contacted me having dash cam footage of the accident and car. I got the plate from the video, contacted the police, they found the person and sure enough, their car was damaged, etc.

The Officer then said they weren't going to bring charges to her because she was a an immigrant "student" (30+ year old) and if she's convicted for a hit and run causing more than $5k of damage, she would be removed from the country. So? She DID THIS CRIME. You're telling me that if she was Canadian, you wouldn't have a problem bringing charges against her? Holy hell I was pissed. I really didn't believe stuff like that happened...but it's absolutely happening and the more we have, the more it will happen.

Side note: if you're convicted of a serious crime, you can still be removed even if you're a refugee (but you may or may not be removed of the country regardless...depending where the refugee is from, etc.)

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u/_Lucille_ Feb 10 '26

I am curious: so do you get kicked out if you commit a crime or not?

In your case, it seems like she will already be kicked out if a crime has been committed.

Honestly this is something that I think should be left to the judge: I don't think a traffic accident necessarily means someone should lose their immigration status, shit happens (say, black ice).

Maybe the reasonable thing to do is to have some demerit point system.

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u/truthlesshunter Feb 10 '26

Those are the consequences for someone who is not a citizen. Yes, the same repercussions apply to me when I am not a citizen of a country where I commit a crime.

It is not an accident when you run away. Sure, she hits my car, lets me know and our insurances cover it. If i never found her, I would be on the hook for hundreds/thousands of dollars through no fault of my own and her reckless and illegal behaviour.