Fifteen people accused in B.C. extortion cases file refugee claims, CBSA confirms

Canada’s border agency says 15 foreign nationals linked to ongoing extortion investigations have submitted refugee claims, a move that has drawn concern from local officials in Surrey as the region continues to grapple with a surge in extortion-related crime. The Canada Border Services Agency says each claimant will be assessed under federal asylum rules, but did not disclose the individuals’ nationalities or details of their applications.

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says she is troubled by the development and argues that the public expects federal systems to prevent criminal suspects from using immigration pathways to delay removal. Officials in Surrey say the community has recorded 106 extortion cases so far this year, many involving threats or violence against South Asian business owners and families.

CBSA says Canadian law requires that eligible refugee claimants be given a hearing, but notes that the Immigration and Refugee Board can pause proceedings when there are potential grounds of ineligibility. The agency says people found inadmissible for reasons such as serious criminality or organized crime will not have their refugee claims heard and may instead be issued removal orders.

The wave of extortion attempts and related shootings across the Lower Mainland has prompted repeated calls for stronger federal tools to protect targeted communities. Locke says residents need assurance that immigration and enforcement systems can respond quickly to threats that undermine public safety.