The Canada Border Services Agency has issued a temporary halt on deportations to Israel and Lebanon, citing escalating violence and security risks tied to the ongoing conflict in the region.
In a statement Saturday, the CBSA said the measure, known as an Administrative Deferral of Removals, is being implemented due to “volatile and unpredictable hostilities” that pose widespread danger to civilians.
Officials said the conflict has created broad risks to the civilian population in both countries, with reports of injuries and fatalities extending beyond targeted military actions.
The deferral is issued under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and is typically applied when conditions in a country, such as armed conflict, violence or environmental disasters, make it unsafe to return individuals.
However, the CBSA said the pause does not apply to people deemed inadmissible to Canada on grounds including serious criminality, organized crime, national security concerns, or violations of international or human rights.
The agency said removals will resume once conditions in Israel and Lebanon stabilize and no longer present a generalized risk to civilians.
Under Canadian law, the CBSA is required to remove individuals found inadmissible to the country once all legal avenues of appeal have been exhausted.
In 2025, the agency removed more than 22,500 inadmissible individuals from Canada and is currently carrying out approximately 400 removals each week.
Through Canada’s Border Plan, the federal government has allocated $30.4 million to help the CBSA increase its capacity to complete up to 20,000 removals annually during the current fiscal year and in 2026–27.
According to the agency, there are currently 16 countries worldwide subject to an Administrative Deferral of Removals due to unsafe conditions. The list is available on the CBSA website.