Weekly Digest | June 22, 2025

Key Highlights:

Recent Judicial Reviews
CBSA Halts Removals to Israel
Strong Borders Act – New Measures Clarified
Canada Marks World Refugee Day
Settlement Services Expanded for Gaza Arrivals
Private Sponsor Supports
Federal Court Practice Guidelines Amended
Brampton Immigration Company Fined
Latest PNP Draws
Important Upcoming Dates

Recent Case Law

Humanitarian & Compassionate – PRRA – Contreras Bravo v. Canada, 2025 FC 1079: Mexican applicant sought PR under H&C and PRRA, citing risk of gender-based violence as a single mother. Officer dismissed claims based on lack of past hardship in Mexico, despite the fact that the applicant became a mother after arriving in Canada. Officer failed to assess the applicant’s new risk profile and objective country evidence, and conflated hardship with risk. Judicial review granted. Read more

Study Permit – Temporary Resident Visa – Ghasemi v. Canada, 2025 FC 1072: Iranian applicant applied to study Environmental Technology at Seneca College. Officer found program redundant in light of applicant’s Master’s in environmental design and prior work experience. Court held the applicant failed to detail how the program would advance her career. Reasons, though brief, were responsive and justified. TRV refusal for accompanying daughter upheld. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Nanikova v. Canada, 2025 FC 1094: Russian couple applied for TRVs to visit family. Officer found misrepresentation due to altered bank documents and issued a five-year inadmissibility finding under s.40 IRPA. Applicants responded with affidavits and new certified statements, asserting formatting—not content—was altered. Court found procedural fairness breached; PFL lacked specificity about concerns (balance vs. formatting), and the Officer failed to assess the new evidence. Judicial review granted. Read more

Humanitarian & Compassionate – Okojie v. Canada, 2025 FC 1099: Nigerian applicant and her U.S.-born children applied for PR under H&C based on establishment and risk. Officer focused heavily on past immigration history and failed to meaningfully assess social and community ties developed in Canada. Court found decision lacked justification and a rational analysis. Judicial review granted. Read more

Humanitarian & Compassionate – Singh v. Canada, 2025 FC 1080: Indian family sought PR on H&C grounds citing establishment, financial hardship, and best interests of the child. Officer found submissions acknowledged but not compelling. Evidence of caregiving, integration, and hardship upon return was considered but deemed insufficient. Court held the Officer reasonably applied a compassionate lens and assessed all relevant factors. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

CBSA News Updates

CBSA Halts Removals to Israel – June 20, 2025: Due to ongoing hostilities with Iran, the CBSA has issued an Administrative Deferral of Removals (ADR) to Israel under s.230(1)(c) of the IRPR. The ADR applies to those not inadmissible for serious grounds (e.g. criminality, security). Removals will resume once conditions are deemed safe. Israel joins 15 other countries currently subject to ADRs. Read more

IRCC News Updates

Strong Borders Act – New Measures Clarified – June 17, 2025: Canada confirmed new powers to suspend, cancel, or halt immigration document applications (not asylum claims) in the public interest; expand domestic info-sharing under strict privacy rules; streamline asylum processing with online access, faster IRB referrals, removal of inactive claims, and support for vulnerable claimants; and introduce ineligibility rules barring IRB referral for claims made over one year after entry (post–June 24, 2020) or 14+ days after irregular U.S. land entry. Affected individuals may still access PRRA. Read more

Canada Marks World Refugee Day – June 20, 2025: Canada reaffirmed its humanitarian commitment, highlighting the resettlement of over 49,000 refugees in 2024 and pledging to welcome 20,000 more from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Americas, and Sudan by 2026. Efforts include expanded Sudanese resettlement measures, increased family-based PR spaces, and $50.4M in new UNHCR funding, reinforcing Canada’s values of compassion, inclusion, and global responsibility. Read more

Program Delivery Updates

Settlement Services Expanded for Gaza Arrivals – June 16, 2025: IRCC extends federally funded settlement services to more Palestinians arriving from Gaza. Eligible clients will receive the “MOME2023” remark on temporary resident documents, used by service providers to confirm service access and by IRCC to assess transitional financial assistance eligibility. Read more

Private Sponsor Supports – June 16, 2025: IRCC revised its resettlement instructions to clarify sponsor responsibilities and post-arrival requirements for privately sponsored refugees. Read more

Federal Court Updates

Federal Court Practice Guidelines Amended – June 20, 2025: The Federal Court released updated Practice Guidelines, effective June 23, 2025. Key changes include: mandatory bookmarks in submissions, expanded forms of signature, elimination of email filing (except limited cases), AI use disclosure, revised service rules, suspended Study Permit Pilot Project, discouragement of multiple mandamus applications, and reduced hearing lengths for temporary resident matters. Read more

Provincial Government News

Brampton Immigration Company Fined – June 19, 2025: Gandhi Immigration Ltd. was convicted under Ontario’s Immigration Act for altering job letters in two OINP Express Entry Skilled Trades applications to falsely reflect eligibility. On June 6, 2025, following a guilty plea, the company was fined $20,000 per offence and received a 25% victim fine surcharge. The director was a licensed immigration consultant. Both applications were refused. Read more

Latest Draws

Important Upcoming Dates

June 28, 2025: Alberta’s 13-member advisory committee will submit its report on improving foreign credential recognition to the Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism. Read more

June 30, 2025: Temporary suspension of new applications under the Québec Graduate stream and invitations under the Regular and Skilled Worker Selection Programs remains in effect until this date. Read more

July 1, 2025: Regulatory authorities in British Columbia must replace Canadian work experience requirements with alternative assessment frameworks or apply for an exemption under the International Credentials Recognition Act. Read more

July 2, 2025: Ontario launches a new OINP Employer Portal, replacing the paper-based process and introducing an employer-led EOI model. Read more

July 11, 2025: Updated unemployment rates for census metropolitan areas (CMAs) take effect and will be used to assess Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) refusals for low-wage positions in regions with unemployment rates at or above 6%. Read more

July 21, 2025: Deadline to provide feedback on Prince Edward Island’s proposed second phase of the Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act, which includes an employer registry and administrative penalty regulations. Read more

July 31, 2025: Temporary public policy ends for Israeli nationals and Palestinian passport holders in Canada, allowing fee-exempt applications for status extensions, study permits, or open work permits. Read more

July 31, 2025: Temporary public policy ends for eligible family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who left Israel or the Palestinian Territories on or after October 7, 2023, allowing fee-exempt applications for status extensions, study permits, or open work permits in Canada. Read more

July 31, 2025: Temporary special measures end for eligible Lebanese nationals in Canada and family members of Canadians or permanent residents who left Lebanon, allowing fee-exempt applications for open work permits, study permits, or status extensions. Read more