A new federal prison near Montreal is set to house high-risk immigration detainees, according to officials.
The facility, located in Laval, will be used to detain individuals who pose a high risk to public safety or are deemed unlikely to comply with their immigration proceedings.
This decision comes after years of criticism and legal challenges surrounding the detention of immigrants in provincial jails, which are not equipped to handle immigration cases.
The new prison, which is expected to open in 2021, will have a maximum capacity of 158 detainees and will be operated by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
According to Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, the facility will provide a more appropriate and secure environment for immigration detainees, while also ensuring the safety of Canadians.
The decision to open a dedicated facility for immigration detainees has been welcomed by human rights advocates, who have long called for an end to the practice of detaining immigrants in provincial jails.
However, some have raised concerns about the potential for increased isolation and lack of access to legal representation for detainees in the new facility.
In response, the CBSA has stated that the facility will have access to medical and mental health services, as well as legal aid and visitation rights.
The decision to open a dedicated facility for high-risk immigration detainees is part of the government’s commitment to reform the immigration detention system and ensure the humane treatment of individuals in custody.
The new prison in Laval is just one step towards this goal, and officials have stated that further changes and improvements will be made in the coming years.
In the meantime, the government will continue to work towards finding alternatives to detention and reducing the number of individuals held in custody for immigration purposes.
The opening of this new facility marks a significant shift in the way Canada handles immigration detention, and it is hoped that it will lead to a more fair and just system for all involved.
