CBSA Watchdog with No Teeth? Posted onMarch 20, 2020June 16, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP A report commissioned by Public Safety Canada came to light earlier this year, urging the government to put in place an independent body to review complaints against and make recommendations to the Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The new “Canada Law Enforcement Review Commission” would have the ability to initiate reviews, dismiss frivolous complaints, share information with other review bodies, and issue non-binding recommendations to the CBSA and RCMP. While the proposal made by former Privy Council Office chief Mel Cappe would be a welcome source of accountability and transparency in Canada’s immigration system in theory, it is unlikely that such a body would have any ability to reprimand or impose change on either the CBSA or RCMP. The report was commissioned partly in response to growing public concern for the safety of people entering Canada and being detained administratively for sometimes indefinite periods of time, often improperly. The CBSA has come under recent scrutiny as a result of a series of in-custody deaths. While Canadian immigration lawyers urge the government to consider implementing the recommendations sooner than later, the extent of the watchdog’s ability to protect will remain to be seen. “This article is intended to inform. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon by readers as such. If you require legal assistance, please see a lawyer. Each case is unique and a lawyer with good training and sound judgment can provide you with advice tailored to your specific situation and needs.” Related Posts Posted onJune 9, 2020September 29, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP Reduced Travel Restrictions for Relatives of Canadians and PRs Recently, the government announced that “immediate family members” of Canadians and Canadian permanent residents will be exempt from the prohibition on entry to Canada if they are coming to be with their Canadian or PR family member for at least 15 days. This will hopefully serve to reduce the uncertainty many have faced since measures under the [...] Read more Posted onOctober 23, 2018June 16, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP Update: “Taking the High Road” – Crossing the Canada/US Border following the Legalization of Cannabis In our previous blog post, we discussed the serious implications of cannabis affiliation at the U.S. Border. With the very recent legalization of cannabis, this topic has also made headlines. Many Canadians are concerned that they will be banned for life from the U.S. if they admit to smoking cannabis, presently, or in years past. [...] Read more Posted onAugust 21, 2018June 16, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP Taking the High Road: Canadians Crossing the US Border Many of our readers may be pleased about the soon-to-be legalization of marijuana. These same readers may find themselves feeling slightly relieved, as gone are the days where smoking pot also meant breaking the law. Right? Wrong. Although cannabis is about to become legal in Canada, there are still many important legalities that must be [...] Read more Posted onSeptember 12, 2017June 18, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP CBSA Arrests 2, Recovers 273kg of Cocaine in Sailboat at Nova Scotia Harbour Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers found approximately 273kg of cocaine on board a 29 foot boat, calling it “unusual” that such a small vessel had that much of a load. This is not the first seizure that the CBSA has seen in Nova Scotia, and it won’t be the last. The second most significant [...] Read more