MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Jan. 5, 2015) - Canada Border Services Agency

The Honourable Steven Blaney, Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, highlighted today two outstanding successes by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) that will help keep Canadian families and communities safe.

The Harper Government has reached a major program milestone with successful removals of more than 50 individuals on the CBSA Wanted List.

Additionally, Canadian border authorities have reached a new intelligence milestone with more than 150 convicted U.S. sex offenders denied entry to Canada.

Together, these milestones reflect the important work our Government is undertaking to help keep our streets and communities safe by ensuring that foreign criminals are turned away from our borders, and removed once found by authorities.

Quick Facts

"Wanted by the CBSA"

• The "Wanted by the CBSA" program has proven to be a useful tool for assisting border services officers in locating individuals who are wanted for removal. To date, as a result of this program, Canadians have assisted the CBSA in locating:
  • 59 individuals in Canada, with 51 being removed;
  • 17 individuals abroad.

Denial of entry to sex offenders

• In 2014, referrals by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) concerning travelling sexual offenders to Canada led to 59 instances where the CBSA was able to refuse entry at the border.

• A recent example of the success of this project took place in November 2014: Information was shared by CBP regarding the scheduled travel to Canada of a 52-year-old male U.S.-registered child sexual offender. Upon arrival, the individual was intercepted by the CBSA, determined to be inadmissible, and returned to the United States.

Quotes

"I am proud to be announcing the removal of more than 50 individuals who were 'Wanted by the CBSA', through a program that has continued to help keep our families and communities safe. I am encouraged that our safe and effective border policies have ensured that over 150 sex offenders were prevented from entering Canada and kept off our streets. Our Government's commitment to keep Canadians and their families safe continues to play an important role at our shared border. I would like to congratulate the officers of the CBSA, members of the public, and law enforcement partners for their efforts in locating and apprehending these individuals who have no place in Canada."

- The Honourable Steven Blaney, Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Related Link

Wanted by the CBSA

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