Poilievre Pushes for Iranian Deportation Plan
With up to 700 government figures possibly in Canada, Poilievre’s team demands swift enforcement from Carney’s government.
Canadian political parties have intensified calls for the swift deportation of individuals linked to the Iranian government, exposing deep divisions over national security and immigration enforcement.
On March 11, 2026, Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman, alongside Shadow Minister for Immigration Michelle Rempel Garner and Quebec Lieutenant Pierre Paul-Hus, demanded that the Liberal government table a concrete action plan within one week. They called for urgent enforcement of deportation orders against Iranian government officials and a firm block on anyone involved in terrorism or crimes against the Iranian people from remaining in Canada.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been blunt, stating there is no place in Canada for agents acting on behalf of the Iranian government. He insists every terror operative must be identified, arrested, charged, and deported.
The pressure comes amid troubling data. Reports indicate up to 700 Iranian nationals with links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated a terrorist entity by Canada in 2024, may reside in the country. The Canada Border Services Agency has cancelled 239 visas tied to government figures, yet officials confirmed in early March 2026 that only one senior Iranian government official has been deported despite years of warnings.
In 2025, more than 7,000 Iranians filed asylum claims, ranking Iran among the top sources after India and Haiti. The overall Immigration and Refugee Board backlog remains near 300,000 cases, complicating timely removals. Critics argue that some regime-linked individuals have exploited asylum processes to delay deportation.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, maintains the government is working aggressively to remove IRGC members while respecting due process. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab has faced questions on why removals lag, with officials citing challenges such as limited flights to Iran, privacy protections, and ongoing hearings.
The Conservatives accuse the Liberals of allowing a safe haven for foreign interference that threatens Iranian-Canadian communities. Diaspora groups have long pressed Ottawa for stronger action against regime intimidation on Canadian soil.
While both parties express concern over pro Iranian government activities, the gap between tough rhetoric and actual deportations remains wide. With only minimal removals recorded, questions persist about whether political pressure will translate into enforcement or remain largely symbolic.
BACKGROUNDER
Deportations of Nationals from Adversarial Countries Remain Limited in Canada
Canada has significantly increased overall deportations in recent years, with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) removing approximately 19,000 to 22,500 foreign nationals in 2025, the highest annual total on record. However, removals of individuals from countries considered adversarial, such as Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea, have been relatively low and focused mainly on specific security concerns rather than large-scale operations.
For Iran, progress has been notably slow despite heightened attention. As of March 5, 2026, the CBSA had deported only one senior Iranian regime official under a 2022 policy barring senior officials from remaining in Canada. Of around 28 to 32 individuals assessed as inadmissible due to ties to the Iranian regime or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), three received deportation orders, one was removed, four left voluntarily, and several cases remain ongoing. The agency has cancelled 239 visas linked to regime figures.
Deportations involving China appear more routine but are not framed primarily as national security cases. Historical CBSA data from earlier years show China among the top nationalities for removals (hundreds per year), often related to overstays, failed asylum claims, or criminality rather than espionage or regime ties. No major recent surges specific to Chinese nationals on security grounds were publicly highlighted in 2025-2026.
For Russia and North Korea, public data on targeted deportations remains sparse. Canada has not reported large numbers of removals of Russian nationals tied to the regime or military in recent years. Instead, some Russian dissidents facing potential deportation from the United States have sought refuge or resettlement support in Canada. North Korean cases are rare; older reports noted deportations of individuals who had obtained South Korean citizenship before arriving in Canada, but recent security-focused removals are minimal and not widely publicized.
Overall, while Canada ramped up general enforcement to roughly 400 removals per week by late 2025, actions against nationals from adversarial states have emphasized due process, visa cancellations, and inadmissibility hearings over mass deportations. Practical challenges, including limited direct flights and legal appeals, often slow enforcement in these sensitive cases. Critics argue the gap between identifications and actual removals highlights enforcement limitations, particularly for Iran.
