Canada Proposes Sweeping Immigration And Security Bill

CANADA – Canada’s government introduced the Strong Borders Act Wednesday, to tighten asylum rules and give authorities expanded powers to combat organized crime and illegal cross-border activity.

Under the 127-page proposal, anyone in Canada for over a year would be barred from filing new asylum claims, while those entering from the U.S. must apply within 14 days or face a security risk assessment.

The law also lets officials suspend all new applications for public-health or national-security reasons and grants police broader authority to open and inspect mail.

Ottawa says the measures will curb fentanyl trafficking and illegal weapons but critics warn the bill undermines refugee protections.