According to news reports, the Canadian government deported more than 12,000 people from Canada in 2020, the highest number since 2015. Another news report showed that Canada deported around 7,119 immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic, most of whom were from India and other South Asian countries. The increasing number of people being deported from Canada is alarming, as it puts all the immigrants at risk of being deported if things go south. Therefore, immigration lawyers recommend staying out of legal trouble and avoiding any activities that might lead to the Canadian government deporting you from the country.

But how can immigrants prevent deportation? This blog discusses some instances that can lead to deportation from Canada.

Impaired Driving Causing Bodily Harm or Death 

Conducting a serious crime can get immigrants deported from Canada in no time. One of these crimes is impaired driving on the streets of Canada. If you’re driving a vehicle while drunk, you can get stopped by the authorities and be fined. If it's your first violation, you might not get deported. However, things can be serious if it's a repeated offence.

Additionally, if your drunk driving has caused an accident, you can be deported from Canada. If drunk driving results in bodily harm to another passenger or passerby, you might have to face a fine, imprisonment, and deportation. The same can happen if that drunk driving accident ends in the loss of a person’s life.

Cultivating or Transporting Marijuana

In Canada, the consumption of cannabis and other cannabis-based products is legal. However, in October 2018, the Canadian Government regulated access to cannabis. Adults in Canada can possess up to 30 grams of cannabis at a time or grow 4 plants in one household. However, you need to remember that cannabis has to be legally produced. Even though the consumption of legally-produced and approved cannabis is allowed in Canada, it's illegal to cultivate Marijuana on a large scale or transport it without getting approval from the authorities.

If you decide to grow more than four plants in your house, you might have to pay a huge fine of $2,000 to $100,000, imprisonment of up to 12 months, and risk getting deported from Canada. Additionally, if you’re trafficking cannabis in the country or are selling it illegally, you can land into legal trouble and get deported immediately.

Fleeing Law Enforcement Agencies

Running away from the police and refusing to stop when a police officer asks you to is considered a serious offence in Canada. If an immigrant or permanent resident refuses to stop for the police, they will have to pay around $1,000-$10,000 as a fine. Additionally, they may also have to serve an imprisonment term of 6 months maximum.

The punishment can get much more severe if you run away from police custody after committing any criminal activity. In this case, once you’re detained, the Canadian government can charge you for your crime and/or fleeing the police by deporting you from the country immediately.

Theft or Robbery

Even though theft or robbery is considered a serious crime in Canada, you might only have to pay a fine, serve community hours, or get imprisoned, if you have stolen an amount under $5000 or any item of the same value. However, if you have stolen something that costs more than $500, you’ll get deported in no time.

Additionally, if you committed a robbery in any place without a weapon, you can also get deported. The decision can be much more severe if the robbery includes physical assault with or without a weapon. If an immigrant or permanent resident causes an injury or another form of bodily harm to another person, the Canadian government reserves the right to deport them instantly.

Got Deported from Canada or Want to Avoid Deportation? Get Started with Nanda & Associate Lawyers

Getting deported can be a stressful and life-altering experience for immigrants who have built a new life in Canada. Therefore, immigrants facing deportation need to hire an immigration consultant to get further legal advice and representation. Nanda & Associate Lawyers has a team of professional immigration lawyers who help you file an appeal against the removal order. Additionally, these immigration lawyers in Toronto can represent you in a re-entry case to Canada. Their immigration lawyers also help immigrants get Canadian spousal sponsorship, fill out permanent residence applications, get open work permits in Canada, and apply for the federal skilled worker program.

Book a consultation appointment with their immigration consultants, avoid deportation through their legal advice or get re-entry into Canada after getting deported.

About the Author 

The author is Veena C. Gupta, an immigration lawyer, affiliated with Nanda & Associate Lawyers. She has around 16 years of experience representing and guiding people in immigration matters, including deportation cases.

Disclaimer: This article is only intended for educational purposes and shouldn’t be used as a substitute for legal advice.