COVID-19 is re-bordering Canada’s privately sponsored refugees. This re-bordering is creating new barriers, hurdles, and obstacles for those entering into and living in Canada. The former are facing travel restrictions, protracted waiting, and health risks. The latter are experiencing employment, health, and social support challenges.
Canada is one of the few countries in the world that annually offers resettlement to privately sponsored refugees. This program involves Canadian citizens and permanent residents engaging in the resettlement of refugees from abroad. Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees program relies on the time-commitment and funds of faith-based communities, ethnic groups, families, and other caring associations. Private sponsors may name the refugee they wish to resettle and provide the refugee with personalized local support, usually for a one-year period. However, all settlement operations have been stalled.
Canadian government’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada and the International Organization for Migration suspended settlement operations
On 17 March 2020, the Canadian government’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) suspended settlement operations due to the coronavirus. With the closure of the Canadian border until 30 June 2020, there are continued delays in processing sponsored refugee applications internationally because Canadian embassies and visa offices, the IOM, and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) have witnessed operational modifications due to the coronavirus.
