The overall objective of this study is to understand the experiences of asylum seekers arriving illegally, including with the help of smugglers, in Canada. The phenomenon of illegal immigration in Canada is analyzed using the specific experiences of migrants and key informants. This methodology gives voice to migrants and their experiences. Results indicate that illegal immigration and reliance on human traffickers are the perverse effect of tighter borders and the strengthening of immigration controls, becoming the only solution for asylum seekers. This research challenges the widespread idea that smugglers routinely exploit and victimize migrants, arguing that, to the contrary, smugglers are often the ones who enable migrants to reach Canada and seek refugee status.

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Canada immigration policy refugee migrants experience illegal immigrant asylum seeker trafficking