Big news for migrant and refugee rights in Canada: as of September 15, no immigration detainees remain in provincial jails. Ontario was the last province to stop allowing the Canada Border Services Agency to use its correctional facilities, marking a historic shift.
The move follows years of pressure from rights groups like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the #WelcomeToCanada campaign. Critics long argued that immigration detention in provincial jails was harmful, discriminatory, and violated human rights standards.
While provinces have ended the practice, Ottawa has started using federal prisons instead, sparking concern. Should Canada focus more on community-based alternatives instead of expanding detention?
