(SURREY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA) Canada’s border agency says 15 foreign nationals charged in an extortion probe in British Columbia have applied for refugee status, a move that can slow removals while their cases are screened. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) confirmed the claims on December 12, 2025, after Global News first reported the applications. CBSA said the 15 are part of a wider set of more than 100 foreign nationals under immigration investigation for suspected links to extortion incidents across B.C.’s Lower Mainland. Their refugee claims, the agency said, have been referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board for steps.
Local reaction and political response
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said she was “appalled” to learn that people accused of shaking down businesses are turning to Canada’s protection system.
“They are abusing Canada’s legal and immigration systems to extend their stay,” Locke said, arguing that victims are left waiting as the suspects fight deportation. She called for “swift justice” and urged Ottawa to “fix immigration and deportation laws” that, in her view, let accused offenders stay longer in the community.
- Surrey Police Service has reported 106 extortion cases in Surrey this year.
- Police and leaders say many targets are in the South Asian community, especially shops.
CBSA’s position and legal process
CBSA emphasized how Canadian law treats refugee claims and criminal issues:
- Eligible claimants have a right to a hearing, but that right is not automatic when criminal issues arise.
- People found inadmissible for “serious criminality” or “organized criminality” will not have refugee claims heard and are instead subject to removal.
- When a claimant may be ineligible on more serious grounds, CBSA asks the Immigration and Refugee Board to pause the refugee case until admissibility is settled.
CBSA says this screening aims to stop misuse without blocking real refugees. A CBSA spokesperson did not name the 15 suspects or say when their cases began.
How refugee claims can affect timing of removals
The agency’s statement leaves open a narrow but important point for communities rattled by Lower Mainland violence: filing a claim can still create delays while eligibility is decided.
- Refugee claims are first checked for basic eligibility, and only then scheduled for a full hearing.
- During that eligibility period, people are often allowed to remain in Canada unless detained under immigration rules.
- Lawyers working on removal files say the timing of criminal charges, bail, and immigration detention can shape how quickly a person is removed.
- CBSA did not say if any of the 15 are detained.
Community impact and concerns
For Locke, the mix of extortion and immigration procedure has become a local political flashpoint. She said extortion attempts have disproportionately hit Surrey and the broader South Asian community in B.C., part of what police describe as a wider wave of such crimes and shootings in the region.
- CBSA’s disclosure that 15 suspects have sought refugee status, she argued, shows how accused offenders can try to “extend their stay” while deportation is pursued.
- Federal officials have not publicly detailed the suspects’ immigration histories, but CBSA stressed that criminal inadmissibility can stop a claim before a hearing.
Roles of CBSA and the Immigration and Refugee Board
- The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada decides refugee claims.
- CBSA plays a central role by:
- Making arrests under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- Arguing that a person is inadmissible (meaning the government says someone cannot stay in Canada because of reasons such as serious crime or links to organized crime).
- When CBSA issues a deportation order, a refugee claim can be barred, depending on the facts and findings.
Official guidance on the refugee claim system is posted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at the government’s asylum information page: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/asylum.html
Reporting context and scope
Global News reported that the 15 suspects face extortion charges in British Columbia, and CBSA said it issued a statement after questions about whether refugee claims can delay deportation. The agency said the suspects’ claims have been referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board, which will process them under its rules.
- CBSA added that the 15 are a small part of a larger enforcement picture, with more than 100 foreign nationals under CBSA immigration investigations for suspected links to extortion incidents in B.C. in 2025.
- Police in the Lower Mainland have pointed to more than 100 suspected incidents this year.
Broader debate: speed, fairness, and public safety
The case arrives amid national debate about balancing speed, fairness, and public safety in Canada’s asylum system.
- Refugee status is meant for people who fear persecution or serious harm if returned home.
- The public can feel uneasy when claimants are accused of crimes.
- CBSA’s reference to “serious criminality” and “organized criminality” signals that some claims can be blocked before the Refugee Board hears the fear-based case.
CBSA did not say what stage any of the extortion prosecutions have reached, or whether the refugee claimants have lawyers. VisaVerge.com reports waits can shape residents’ trust in Surrey today.
Victims, reporting, and investigative challenges
Residents and business owners in Surrey have described getting demands for money and threats of violence if they refuse, according to accounts relayed by local officials. Locke has pressed for tighter deportation rules in cases tied to suspected organized crime, saying the aim is to protect neighborhoods.
- CBSA’s statement indicates it will argue inadmissibility where it believes “serious criminality” or “organized criminality” applies, which would stop the Refugee Board from hearing the refugee claim.
- Advocates warn victims may hesitate to report extortion if they think suspects will stay for months, making investigations harder locally.
Operational and enforcement tensions
The pressure on authorities has grown as extortion reports accumulate across the region, with police and officials citing more than 100 suspected incidents in 2025. CBSA’s disclosure underscores how immigration enforcement and criminal courts can run on different timelines when someone files for refugee status after being charged.
- CBSA can seek detention on public-safety grounds, but it must still follow the Refugee Board’s rules while eligibility is decided.
- Locke says residents want protection and fairness, but she argues fairness also means removals when the law allows.
- Federal immigration officials point to inadmissibility rules as the safeguard in cases like this.
Key takeaway: Filing a refugee claim can pause removal while eligibility is assessed, but CBSA can block claims or seek removals when it establishes serious or organized criminality.
CBSA confirmed that 15 foreign nationals charged in B.C. extortion cases have filed refugee claims, which may delay removals while eligibility is decided. The 15 are part of over 100 foreign nationals under immigration investigation for suspected extortion links across the Lower Mainland. Surrey leaders, citing 106 local extortion incidents, criticized the claims as system abuse. CBSA said refugee claims can be barred if applicants are found inadmissible for serious or organized criminality.
