An unnamed official privy to the matter disclosed to the Associated Press on Wednesday. The new rules will take effect Thursday night, marking a reversal of Canadas 2016 decision to lift visa restrictions and restore partial pre-2016 regulations. Canadas Immigration Minister Mac Miller is expected to officially announce the visa changes on Thursday. The move comes amid urging by Quebecs premier to curb the recent surge in asylum claims that has overwhelmed the provinces resources. According to the anonymous Canadian official, the revived visa rules wont be a complete return to the previous stringent requirements in place before 2016. Lifting the Mexican visa requirement six years ago was a major step to ease tensions between Canada and Mexico.However, Minister Miller has highlighted that asylum claims from Mexico sharply increased after Canada opened its doors to visa-free travel for Mexicans. Ending visa-free access is also anticipated to decrease illegal border crossings by Mexicans from Canada into the United States.In 2023, Canadas Immigration and Refugee Board received 17,490 refugee claims from Mexico, comprising 19% of all claims that year. The number was over twice the 7,483 Mexican asylum requests in 2022, which formed 12% of claims then. Advocates say many Mexican families are fleeing violence, instability and lack of economic opportunities to seek refuge in Canada. Canadian asylum is granted only to applicants feared to be unsafe in any part of their home country due to authorities being unable or unwilling to ensure their safety.During his daily morning press briefing on Wednesday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador foreshadowed Canadas looming announcement. He suggested conservative Mexican interests lobbying the U.S. and Canada were provoking actions to embarrass his administration. Lopez Obrador referenced U.S. accusations of Mexican fentanyl production and American and Canadian claims that Mexico wasnt controlling immigration enough. And now Canada is doing the same, theyre wanting to take measures against Mexico we really regret it, he said.The Mexican leader raised the prospect of skipping the North American Leaders Summit in Quebec in April if respectful treatment wasnt shown. If there isnt respectful treatment, I dont participate, Lopez Obrador declared.
