Miguel, a 22-year-old carpenter’s apprentice from Montreal, is the primary provider for his young family. However, he now faces deportation, a situation that has become increasingly common as the Canadian government intensifies its efforts to expel more individuals. Advocates and legal experts warn that the separation of families among asylum seekers is on the rise.
Miguel’s partner, 23-year-old Andrea, fled an abusive relationship in Mexico, only to endure further domestic violence in Canada, which left her hospitalized two years ago.
As she cradles their seven-month-old son, Andrea speaks fondly of Miguel as the cornerstone of their household and a vital source of emotional support.
“No one can care for my son better than his father,” Andrea emphasized during an interview with CBC at the Montreal Welcome Collective, an organization dedicated to assisting refugees and asylum seekers.
Life under such strain has taken its toll on Andrea, who admits to grappling with anxiety and paranoia, underscoring Miguel’s crucial role in maintaining family stability.
While Andrea is focused on caring for their baby, who requires frequent medical tests for heart issues, the family’s situation remains precarious. Both Miguel and Andrea have requested that CBC withhold their last names due to threats Miguel faces from cartel members in Mexico and Andrea’s concerns about her abusive partner, who has recently been released both in Mexico and Quebec.
As they face imminent deportation, with Miguel’s removal set for May 5—just ten days before he becomes eligible to appeal—the family is racing to persuade the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to allow them time to file for a pre-removal risk assessment. This process is a last-ditch attempt to demonstrate that their safety in Mexico is at risk.
Escalating Deportation Rates
In a significant policy shift last year, Canada announced stringent new immigration measures, including a target to deport 20,000 individuals annually between 2025 and 2027.
Between 2020 and 2024, the CBSA deported between 7,500 and 17,000 people, but this figure surged to over 23,000 in 2025.
The government has introduced two new immigration bills aimed at bolstering border control. A proposed law introduced in June sought to enhance surveillance, while Bill C-12, passed in March, would nullify 30,000 asylum claims. Both measures have sparked significant controversy.
The confluence of heightened deportations and the passage of Bill C-12 has put thousands of individuals in a state of uncertainty. Legal advocates are urgently demanding an end to family separations, arguing that Quebec border agents often neglect critical factors such as children’s best interests when making deportation decisions.
“When I share my case with lawyers from other provinces, they seem astonished,” said Anne-Cécile Coury-Raphael, vice-president of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers in Montreal. “It’s alarming how the CBSA seems to handle family separations as if it’s quite ordinary. It’s as if they don’t regard these families in the same light as their own.”
The Welcome Collective has handled over a dozen cases of family separations in the past year, most of which resulted in at least one family member successfully securing asylum. In Andrea’s case, she remains protected from deportation while awaiting a decision on her pre-deportation risk assessment, and advocates are hopeful that Miguel will be granted the same opportunity.
Maryse Poisson from the Welcome Collective pointed out the shortage of immigration lawyers in Quebec, making it increasingly difficult for families to secure proper legal representation in a timely manner.
Recent reports highlighted cases reminiscent of Miguel’s, such as that of an Indian father, also the main provider for his family, who faced deportation while waiting to apply for permanent residency based on his wife’s status.
The Refugee Council of Canada has issued an open letter urging federal immigration and public safety ministers to stop family separations. While the CBSA has the legal authority to deport ineligible individuals like Miguel, immigration experts suggest that the agency seems to be acting more swiftly and aggressively in Quebec, rather than exercising discretion in favor of family reunification as mandated by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
In 2025, the number of deportations from Quebec surged, surpassing 10,000 individuals, which represented nearly half of all deportations across Canada. In contrast, Ontario recorded 8,700 removals.
Although CBC reached out to the CBSA for feedback, no comment was immediately provided.
Miguel’s Distressing Experience
Since arriving in Canada three years ago, Miguel has diligently worked to establish a stable life, securing employment on a farm, learning English, and paying taxes while pursuing a steady career in construction.
However, after receiving a notice to report to the CBSA office in April, he was informed that if he wished to return to Mexico, he would need to pay for his own ticket or face incurring a $4,000 debt to Canada, plus interest.
“I tried to explain that my son needed medical attention, but the agent said it wasn’t his problem,” Miguel recalled, underscoring the lack of empathy in the process.
The emotional magnitude of possibly being separated from his family has been overwhelming for Miguel, who bears the responsibility for paying rent and providing food for the household.
“The most painful part for me is the thought of being torn away from my family,” he said.
Immigration attorney Juliette Jean took on Miguel’s case at the last possible moment, expressing her dismay upon learning about the family’s newborn. “It’s particularly heartbreaking and troubling from a humanitarian perspective,” she remarked.
