can refugees travel within canada

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• Basic Information for Refugees

How does Canada's refugee system work?

A refugee is a person who has fled their own country because they are at risk of serious human rights violations and persecution there, are unable to return, and need protection.

Canada has two refugee protection programs to help meet this need:

• In-Canada Asylum Program - for people making refugee protection claims from within Canada
• Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program - for people who need protection from outside Canada

The In-Canada Asylum Program

People arriving at a Canadian point of entry or already in Canada can apply for refugee protection by making a refugee claim to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) . The IRB is an independent administrative tribunal that decides if the claimant qualifies for refugee protection.

The IRB will hear a case and decide according to two protection categories.

• A Convention Refugee has a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, being outside of their country of nationality and being unable or unwilling to return.
• A person in need of protection faces the danger of torture, risk to their life or risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if they return to their home country.

People seeking asylum upon entry to Canada from the United States usually cannot make a refugee claim because of the Canada-US Safe Country Agreement .

If the IRB finds that a person meets the criteria of one of these categories, they will receive "protected person" status. Then they can apply for permanent residence . If the case is rejected, they may be able to appeal to the Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) .

The Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program

The Refugee Resettlement Program helps refugees outside of Canada and their country of origin who need protection.

People must be referred by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) , a designated referral organization, or a private sponsorship group ; they may need a refugee status document .

Refugees are resettled in Canada through different resettlement programs , including the Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR) Program and the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program . The main difference between these programs is the breakdown of the financial and non-financial support from the Government of Canada and private sponsors.

For More Information

• Canada's Refugee System - Information about the structure of Canada's refugee system. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
• WelcomeOntario.ca - This is a refugee assistance information website created to bring together trustworthy information for those helping refugees settle in Ontario.
• Immigration and Refugee Board - An independent tribunal responsible for hearing refugee claims and appeals.
• The Asylum System in Canada - A visual summary of how the asylum system works in Canada. From the UNHCR.
• RefugeeClaim.ca - A multilingual resource that provides information on what you can do to prepare for your hearing. From Kinbrace.
• Front-End Processing - This infographic has information about how people apply for refugee status. From CCR.
• MyRefugeeClaim.ca - A guide for refugee claimants about Canada's refugee protection process. From Kinbrace.
• Your Refugee Hearing - This website has practical information to help you prepare for a hearing at the Immigration and Refugee Board. It also offers an online tour of a hearing room. From Steps to Justice.
• What is the O-Canada (Orientation-Canada) App? - O-Canada App is the United Nations Migration Agency's digital tool for refugees selected for resettlement to Canada. From WelcomeOntario.ca

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Can I apply for an eTA with a Refugee Travel Document?

No. Most people using a Refugee Travel Document to travel to Canada will  need a visitor visa .

Exceptions:

• If you have a valid  Canadian Refugee Travel document , you are exempt from both the visa and eTA requirements.
• If you’re a lawful permanent resident of the United States and don’t have a passport, you can travel to Canada with your valid U.S. Refugee Travel Document (I-571) and official proof of your lawful permanent resident status.

You need an official proof of status as a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., such as one of the following:

• valid permanent resident card (Form I-551)
• foreign passport with an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp (also known as an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication [ADIT] stamp)
• foreign passport with a temporary I-551 printed notation (“Upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year”) on a machine-readable immigrant visa upon endorsement with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection admission stamp
• expired permanent resident card (Form I-551) with Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence) or Form I-829 (Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status)
• expired permanent resident card (Form I-551) with Form I-797 (Notice of Action) for pending Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card [green card])
• valid re-entry permit (Form I-327)
• Form I-94 with an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp (ADIT stamp) and a passport-style photo

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Who can get refugee protection in Canada?

If you fear persecution in your country or at risk of cruel and inhuman treatment or torture, you can claim refugee protection in canada., race or nationality.

For example: You  fear persecution because you are  part of an ethnic or language minority group.

For example: You fear persecution because you  are part of a religious minority or because you have converted to another religion.

Member of a particular social group

For example: You have been subject to violence because of your sexual orientation or gender, or you fear persecution because of your family ties.

Political opinion

For example: You are a journalist or blogger, a human rights activist, or you are or are perceived as a government opponent.

Or if you fear one of the following:

Risk to your life or cruel and inhuman treatment

You are facing a  personal  risk that is not faced by the general population. For example: You are the victim of a crime or you are afraid of revenge.

Risk of torture

You  have been subject or risk being subject to  severe mental or physical harm committed by the authorities (under their orders or with their consent) to get information from you or to punish you.  

Download a PDF version of this document in  English ,  Français ,  Español ,  عربي  or  Kreyòl .  

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A passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel identification document and it proves that you have a right to return to Canada 

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Refugees need to repay for flight to Canada after arriving, but it's not that easy

Finding work, english language training are barriers to paying off travel loans.

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A year after their plane touches down in Canada, refugees are required to start repaying their travel loans. But it can be a challenge for larger families. Many are struggling to find meaningful work, cover rising costs, learn a new language and find their place in a new country.

Samiullah Ashna arrived in Calgary with his wife and five children two years ago, fleeing violence and persecution in Afghanistan. 

It was a life-altering journey that took the 40-year-old father, his wife and their young kids — ages four, seven, nine, 11 and 13 — from Kabul to Islamabad and then on to Calgary.

Samiullah Ashna wants to pay his $19,400 travel loan, but he first needs to find a job

As government-assisted refugees, they were granted permanent residence status as soon as they arrived and were provided essential supports for up to 12 months. However, after a year, the federal benefits end and their travel loan payments start. 

The Immigration Loans Program provides refugees with access to funding to cover a number of expenses, including travel to Canada, establishment assistance and the fee for the right of permanent residence.

In Ashna's case, the total bill is $19,400.

"To be honest, it's like a huge amount for all newcomers," he said.

Ashna wants to pay back every penny — and he's already paid $2,200. 

Ashna says he's applied for roughly 100 jobs, and the search continues.

He says many fellow Afghans have settled for work in warehouses or driving for Uber or food delivery apps. He has also applied for those jobs but hasn't received any responses, let alone a job interview.

'People are struggling'

The director of resettlement and integration services with the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) says pressure from the cost of housing, utilities, food, clothing and other essentials is squeezing most everyone, including refugees.

CCIS provides support for all newcomers, including pre-arrival planning, airport greetings, housing, medical, employment and community integration services. 

"With the transportation loan, we have heard that some people are struggling to start paying back," said Bindu Narula, who is in charge of resettlement and integration for the society.

The benefits under the government's  Resettlement Assistance Program  can include a household startup allowance and monthly income support payments. When those benefits end after a year, families can transition to provincial income support programs if they haven't been able to find work.

Narula says her organization has helped people renegotiate the terms of their loans. She says the federal government is flexible when it comes to lowering payments or extending the amount of time that's needed to pay off the loan, and there is no interest on the loans.

Forgive the loans?

At the Centre for Newcomers, the president and CEO says most refugees are "itching" to work and want to take care of themselves and their families. But in some cases it can be difficult.

The centre is a resource for immigrants and refugees of all nationalities who are settling in Calgary. 

Centre president Anila Umar says some refugees face complex needs, including post-war trauma, disabilities and chronic illnesses. She says that in those cases, travel loan payments should be deferred or the loans forgiven altogether. 

"The majority of refugees aren't using the full one year [of government benefits,] they're actually working, they're actually doing things. So for the ones that aren't actually able to pay, they actually have real needs," Ulmar said.

In 2022, Canada resettled 47,600 refugees, the largest number in the world, according to the International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency. The trend continued in 2023, with another 51,000 refugees, according to Canada Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The chief executive officer of Immigrant Services Calgary, an agency that helps newcomers get established in Calgary by connecting people to various services and programs, doesn't believe the loans should be forgiven in specific cases, or for specific groups. Instead, Nawal Al-Busaidi would like to see adequate supports to establish refugees' independence.

"By giving them accessibility to good opportunities, to jobs that are paid equally and equitably, I don't believe that the loan should be forgiven. But if they are forgiven, they should be forgiven for everybody and not just one group and not the other," said Al-Busaidi.

David Matas, an immigration and refugee lawyer and author based in Winnipeg, says there should be more flexibility in easing the burden on private and government-sponsored refugees.

He says private groups can sponsor only so many refugees before it impacts the number of people allowed to settle here. And he says government-sponsored refugees who face ongoing resettlement challenges should be given options to repay the money.

"Not in every case, but in cases where the refugees really can't get off the ground, it might make sense … to allow for other sources of payment besides the refugees themselves," said Matas.

Deferred, not cancelled

In an email, IRCC was asked under what circumstances repayment can be extended or forgiven. 

"If repaying a loan is causing a person to experience financial hardship, an individual may have loan repayments deferred, vary the amount of the payments or extend the repayment period," said Mary Rose Sabater, a communications advisor with IRCC. 

To the end of March, she says, there were 43,227 outstanding loans. She says repayment terms for loans exceeding $4,800 allow up to eight years for repayment.

Wali Mohammad Dawari and his family were part of that surge of refugees who settled in Canada in 2022. His wife and seven children fled Afghanistan and arrived in Canada in March of that year.

His children range in age from two to 26, and three of his older children are working part-time while going to post-secondary school. Dawari works part-time with Immigrant Services Calgary. He says everyone pools their money together to support the family and slowly chip away at the $15,000 travel loan that he says he owes.

"When you have a number of people working together collectively, they will survive much better than those people that are single," he said.

Through his work, he sees the struggles that many refugees are still encountering — even two years after their arrival. One of the challenges has been the lengthy waitlist for English language training.

"There is not that much capacity to cover all newcomers at once," said Dawari.

"Most of the newcomers are waiting six, seven, eight months to get enrolled in one of the English classes."

Job hunt continues

That's one of the big challenges for Ashna, who is still looking for work, with the added pressure of covering all of his rising expenses. He rents a home for $2,800 per month, plus $500-$600 for utilities. His family is now receiving provincial income support to help cover the costs while his job search continues.

Back home, he worked at the British and Canadian embassies in various programs that help empower women. So far in Calgary, he's still waiting to find work and has been taking courses in business administration.

"To be honest, recently I am applying for every job, like warehouse job … delivery driver, because I haven't received one response from other organization — nothing," he said. 

Ashna says many friends in the local Afghan community are professionals who have settled for low-paying, unskilled jobs, and it's been frustrating to get what he calls "Canadian experience."

"All of them are disappointed," he said.

"My message for the employment agency: please consider these people who came to Canada who are newcomer, they have lots of experience, they have good qualification." 

He says he has no regrets moving to Canada, which he calls a great country for immigrants. He just wants an opportunity to prove that he can contribute in a meaningful way and settle his outstanding debt.

Bryan Labby is an enterprise reporter with CBC Calgary. If you have a good story idea or tip, you can reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @CBCBryan.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Family reunification - options for refugees

Reunification with immediate family members.

Canada's immigration rules give special avenues for refugees to reunite with immediate family members, who are called "dependants".

Dependants are in summary:

• Spouse (by marriage or common law)
• Unmarried biological or adopted children who were under 22 years at the lock-in date. (For refugees, the lock-in date is generally (a) the date that the refugee claim was made, or (b) the date the private sponsorship undertaking was submitted, or (c) the date that the Government-Assisted Refugee's case was referred to Canada. For more information on lock-in dates, see ccrweb.ca/en/age-dependants and www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/aod-tool.asp )

The available avenues depend on whether the refugee was:

• resettled to Canada (privately sponsored, Government-Assisted or Blended Visa-Office Referred (BVOR)) - see below
• determined to be a refugee (Protected Person) within Canada , either by the Immigration and Refugee Board, or through a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) - see below

For resettled refugees: One Year Window

In some cases, a resettled refugee's immediate family members (spouse and dependent children) may not be able to travel with them to Canada. This might be because the family was separated for reasons beyond their control in two different countries, or because a family member was missing and their location was unknown.

If the location of the separated family members is known, after the person arrives in Canada they can apply for their non-accompanying family members to join them. The family members must have been declared on the refugee’s immigration forms. This family reunification application is called the One Year Window (OYW) of opportunity and must be submitted by the resettled person within one year after their arrival to Canada.

The OYW program does not mean that the family members will be in Canada within one year. There is no official processing time for OYW applications and it can often take more than a year for the family members to arrive.

The family members coming through OYW will have to complete an IMM 6000 package similar to what the principal applicant completed to come to Canada. 

In the case of privately sponsored refugees and those who came as BVORs, the private sponsors will also need to demonstrate their capacity to support the additional family members.

Example of a OYW case

Semhar is a refugee who fled Eritrea and traveled to Israel. While in Eritrea, her husband was arrested by security forces and he had not been seen since. She thought he could have been killed but was not sure. Semhar was sponsored to Canada. On her application she included her husband even though his location was unknown. A few months after arriving in Canada she found out that her husband is alive and in a refugee camp in Sudan. Semhar’s husband completes a OYW application and submits it before the end of her first year in Canada.

The instructions (except for Quebec)

IRCC instructions for one year window

Useful information (particularly for privately sponsored refugees)

RSTP fact sheet

RSTP site on the OYW

The instructions for Quebec

See this page

For more information

See CCR's Refugee family reunification: Practical Guide (Section B, page 4)

For people determined to be refugees in Canada

Accepted refugees who are adults can include in their permanent residence application their immediate family members (or dependants), whether they are in Canada or overseas.

The family members overseas will not receive their visa to travel to Canada until after the principal applicant in Canada has received their permanent residence.

People determined to be refugees in Canada can also use the one year window of opportunity (OYW). It may apply in cases where family members’ whereabouts were not known, or for some reason they did not plan to come immediately to Canada. The application for the family member needs to be made within one year of the person receiving permanent residence (and the family member must have been listed on the person's application).

IRCC guide and application forms

See CCR's Refugee family reunification: Practical Guide (Section A, page 1)

Undeclared family members: Excluded family members

An immediate family member who was undeclared or unexamined when the person in Canada became a permanent resident is an "Excluded Family Member" and by regulation cannot be sponsored through the Family Class. However, a pilot project introduced in 2019 and extended in 2021 exempts family members of people who became permanent residents in the Refugee Class or the Family Class (with some exceptions).

This means that people who arrived as refugees may be able to sponsor through the Family Class a spouse or child who was not declared during their immigration processing.

See CCR's Pilot for Excluded Family Members: Practical Information

Options for other family members

Canada’s options for family reunification are quite narrow and limited.

The Family Class allows certain family members (notably parents or grandparents) to be sponsored. However, the financial requirements are beyond the capacity of many.

If a family member is a refugee themselves, it is possible to look at refugee sponsorship programs.

Lastly, it is possible to come to Canada under an economic immigration program, although there are many restrictions on this option as well. For more information on the requirements of different programs see here for immigrating to Quebec, and here  for immigration to the rest of Canada.

Sponsorship of parents or grandparents

Sponsorship of Parents or Grandparents is difficult to access as the government only accepts a limited number of applications each year. Also, there are income requirements which can be difficult to meet.

This program could be a good longer term option for some.

Refugee sponsorship options

If a family member is also a refugee, refugee sponsorship might be an option.

However, it may be difficult to find an organization able to take on the sponsorship of a named individual. Many organizations that do sponsorship have long waiting lists.

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• Fact Sheets

Fact Sheet: DHS Continues to Strengthen Border Security, Reduce Irregular Migration, and Mobilize International Partnerships

WASHINGTON – Today, the Biden-Harris Administration took decisive new action to strengthen border security, announcing a series of measures that limit eligibility for asylum and significantly increase the consequences for those who enter across the southern border.

Today’s announcement builds on a sustained effort by the Administration to exercise its full authorities to enforce the law and impose consequences for irregular migration, including entering the United States unlawfully. Despite global and hemispheric challenges, this Administration’s unprecedented steps to leverage existing resources across DHS and in coordination with our federal and international partners have made a meaningful impact. Despite these efforts, we continue to operate within the confines of a broken immigration system and constrained by limited resources from Congress. Even as we have surged technology, personnel, logistics, and international cooperation to enhance our border security, more is needed.

Strengthening and Expanding Enforcement of Consequences:

DHS has taken unprecedented actions to strengthen enforcement of our immigration laws and deter irregular migration, including referring record numbers of individuals into expedited removal. Over the past year, we have removed or returned more than three quarters of a million people, more than in any fiscal year since 2010:

• Throughout the last three years, this Administration has carried out a whole-of-government response to irregular migration, increasing the number of Agents and Officers on the southwest border to over 24,000, adding thousands of additional support personnel, surging thousands of law enforcement and other personnel from across the Department, and securing the first significant increase of Border Patrol agents in more than a decade.
• DHS has also bolstered the technology along the border, including the deployment of autonomous surveillance towers and continuing to deploy new non-intrusive inspections systems at ports of entry (POEs) to better detect narcotics and other contraband.
• DHS has made significant infrastructure and process improvements aimed at enhancing our ability to deploy consequences for unlawful entries at the border. These efforts include increasing border holding capacity by over a third since early 2021 through the construction of new facilities, modernizing processing systems, contracting support for transportation between sectors, and establishing processes to ensure that removals are accomplished fairly, efficiently, and quickly. As a result, we removed more people in the last year—more than 740,000—than any previous year since 2010.
• In May 2023, DHS and DOJ implemented the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule to discourage irregular migration and incentivize the use of lawful pathways by placing a commonsense condition on asylum ineligibility for certain noncitizens who fail to pursue the safe, orderly, and lawful processes for entry into the United States, or seek protection in another country through which they traveled.
• DHS has significantly expanded its capacity to conduct credible fear interviews needed to ultimately remove those processed for expedited removal without a legal basis to stay and provide protection to legitimate asylum seekers. Since May 12, 2023, DHS has conducted more than 152,000 credible fear interviews.
• USCIS issued revised guidance to Asylum Officers to consider whether an asylum seeker could reasonably relocate to another part of the country of feared persecution when assessing claims of future persecution in all credible fear cases. Internal relocation has always been a part of an analysis of future claims of harm, and this new guidance, consistent with the CLP rule, will ensure early identification and removal of individuals who would ultimately be found ineligible for protection because of their ability to remain safe by relocating elsewhere in the country from which they fled.
• DHS also updated its policy and procedures clarifying the circumstances in which classified information should be used immigration proceedings.
• DHS and DOJ announced a new Recent Arrivals (RA) Docket to more expeditiously resolve immigration cases of certain noncitizen single adults who cross irregularly between ports of entry at the Southwest border.
• The Department of Justice continues to prioritize prosecutions involving smugglers, up 27 percent since 2020, and is increasing penalties for the most prolific and dangerous human smugglers. The Departments of State and Justice have just launched an “Anti-Smuggling Rewards” Initiative to offer financial rewards for information leading to the identification, location, arrest, or conviction of high-priority human smuggling targets. And finally, DOJ and DHS are partnering to direct additional prosecutors and support staff to assist with federal immigration-related prosecutions in crucial border U.S. Attorney offices.
• DHS has worked with federal and international partners to execute the largest surge of removals, increasing agreements that enabled DHS to repatriate individuals to over 170 countries in Fiscal Year 2023. In fact, ICE increased its pace of removals and returns in the months following the Title 42 public health order’s expiration in May 2023, nearly doubling the number of removals between FY 2022 and FY 2023.

Mobilizing International Partnerships and Bolstering Cooperation:

This Administration continues to work with international partners throughout the hemisphere to stem extracontinental migration through increased use of transit visas and passenger vetting. We have also expanded the use of enforcement measures against entities and individuals that profit from irregular migration, including sanctions on transportation companies that facilitate irregular migration. This Administration has also mobilized actions from partner nations to expand lawful pathways, address the root causes of irregular migration, and reduce the flows of migrants through the Darién and Central America and Mexico.

• Coordinated with the Government of Mexico on continued enforcement efforts, to include their independent decision to accept certain non-Mexicans being returned or removed to Mexico from the United States, as well as enhanced efforts to disrupt human smuggling, trafficking, and criminal networks, and continuing to promote lawful pathways to address irregular migration. Engagements since December 2023 have resulted in increased enforcement efforts from the Government of Mexico and a significant drop in encounters.
• Continued coordination through the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection alongside 22 countries across the hemisphere, including the recent two-year anniversary ministerial in Guatemala to reaffirm our shared responsibility to reduce and manage irregular migration. DHS also signed additional agreements with partner countries to strengthen information sharing so that we can detect public safety or national security threats long before they get to our border.
• Negotiated commitments from countries across the world to conduct additional removal flights, with the number of flights doubling or tripling for some countries. Every week DHS conducts dozens of removal flights across the Western Hemisphere and around the world.
• Partnered with the Department of State and partner countries to impose transit visa requirements for certain nationalities and sanction charter airlines that knowingly bring migrants to the Western hemisphere who ultimately arrive at the southwest border. These companies prey on vulnerable irregular migrants by operating services designed primarily to facilitate irregular migration to the United States.
• Imposed visa restrictions on more than 250 members of the Nicaraguan government and other sanctions on 3 Nicaraguan entities in retaliation for repressive actions and a failure to stem migrant smuggling through Nicaragua.
• DHS has led the largest crack down on transnational criminal organizations in the last decade. Our frontline personnel and law enforcement partners, including in allied nations, have carried out the disruption of thousands of human smuggling operations, such as raiding smuggler stash houses, impounding tractor trailers that are used to smuggle migrants, and confiscating smugglers’ information technology.
• Through collaborations like Joint Task Force Alpha and targeted operations such as Operation Plaza Spike and other unprecedented and high-impact efforts, we have worked with Mexico and partners in Central America and across the hemisphere, to disrupt and dismantle smuggling organizations at every level. More than 18,000 smugglers throughout the region have been arrested and thousands here in the United States have been prosecuted under federal law.

Expanded Lawful Pathways and Processes:

This Administration’s efforts have kept more than a million migrants from being exploited at the hands of smugglers through expanded lawful pathways and processes. Through our continued efforts, DHS has:

• Partnered with the Department of State to establish Safe Mobility Offices throughout the region to expand access to lawful pathways such as the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and others, in the United States and partner countries such as Canada and Spain, so that people do not need to take the dangerous journey to the southwest border. More than 10,000 refugees have arrived in the United States through this initiative thus far.
• Established country-specific parole processes for certain nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV). Through the end of April 2024, nearly 435,000 CHNV nationals with a U.S.-based supporter have been screened, vetted, and received advanced travel authorization to arrive lawfully to the United States.
• Worked with our interagency partners and private sector to expand access to H-2 nonimmigrant visa programs and issue nearly 450,000 H-2 visas, the highest ever, to ensure individuals seeking economic opportunities are able to seek these visas instead of taking an irregular journey to U.S. borders while at the same time addressing labor shortages facing U.S. businesses.
• Expanded capacity at ports of entry by more than 4x by utilizing the CBP One mobile application to allow noncitizens to schedule an appointment to present for inspection. Since January 2023 through the end of April 2024, more than 591,000 individuals have successfully scheduled appointments to present at ports of entry using CBP One instead of risking their lives by crossing illegally in the hands of smugglers.
• Implemented new family reunification parole processes, which has allowed for thousands of nationals of Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Ecuador whose family members are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and who are the beneficiaries of an approved family-based petition, to travel to the United States. That was in addition to updating and modernizing the Cuban and Haitian family reunification parole (FRP) processes, making it possible for petitioners to complete most of the process on a secure online platform, eliminating the burden of travel, time, and paperwork and increasing access to participation.

Workforce Support and System Modernization

Through an all-of-DHS strategy, planning, and execution we leveraged support from across the Department and interagency partners for southwest border management.

• Secured the first increase in Border Patrol staffing in over a decade with 300 additional Agents added in Fiscal Year 2023, and funding in Fiscal Year 2024 that would raise that to as many as 2000 total new agents.
• Bolstered the CBP workforce and deployed hundreds of personnel, support contractors, health providers, and wrap around services at 11 soft-sided facilities. This includes hiring over 2,000 non-uniform and contract personnel in the past two years to return agents to front line duties.
• Through additional transportation assets and process optimization, dramatically improved logistical support, and sector to sector decompression to quickly address overcrowding.
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) streamlined and modernized its systems to allow for an increased pace of removals and returns after May 2023.
• Sustained support and information sharing for non-profit and local communities receiving noncitizens.
• Border Security
• Citizenship and Immigration Services
• Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• Department of Justice (DOJ)
• Enforcement
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Can canadian refugees return to their country?

As a country that prides itself on its commitment to humanitarianism and social justice, Canada has long been a beacon of hope for refugees from around the world. In recent years, Canada has welcomed tens of thousands of refugees, including those fleeing conflict, persecution, and other forms of human rights abuses.

However, for some refugees, there may come a time when they wish to return to their country of origin. This could be for a variety of reasons, such as a desire to reunite with family members, to contribute to rebuilding efforts in their homeland, or simply to revisit the places and people they left behind.

But what are the implications of returning to their country for Canadian refugees? Can they do so without jeopardizing their immigration status or facing other legal challenges?

First and foremost, it is important to understand that returning to their country of origin could have serious implications for a refugee’s immigration status in Canada. Under Canadian law, individuals who are recognized as refugees are afforded protection from removal to their home country, which means that they cannot be forced to return to a country where they fear persecution or other forms of harm.

If a refugee were to voluntarily return to their country of origin, however, they could be seen as giving up their protected status as a refugee in Canada. In order to avoid this situation, it is recommended that refugees consult with an immigration lawyer or other legal expert before making any decisions about returning to their country of origin.

Another factor that refugees should consider before returning to their country of origin is the safety and security situation on the ground. For individuals fleeing conflict or persecution, returning to their home country could pose significant risks to their safety and well-being. It is important to carefully weigh these risks and consider seeking advice from Canadian government agencies or other organizations before making any decisions about returning.

Despite these potential challenges, there are some cases where returning to their country of origin could be a viable option for refugees. For example, some refugees may wish to participate in reconstruction or development efforts in their home country, or they may have family members who require their care or support.

For refugees in this situation, it is crucial to work closely with Canadian authorities to ensure that their return is safe and legal. This may involve obtaining the necessary travel documents and permissions from both Canadian and foreign authorities, as well as seeking guidance on any laws or regulations that may impact their ability to return.

In conclusion, while Canadian refugees may have the right to return to their country of origin, there are many factors to consider before doing so. It is important to consult with legal experts and government agencies, carefully evaluate the risks and benefits of returning, and take all necessary precautions to ensure a safe and legal return. With the right approach, however, it may be possible for refugees to find a way to return home while maintaining their immigration status and protecting their safety and well-being.

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Is it possible for Canadian refugees to return to their home country voluntarily?

Canadian refugees may choose to return to their home country voluntarily, although the circumstances surrounding their initial decision to leave cannot be ignored. Refugees flee their home country due to persecution or another form of danger, such as war, civil unrest, or natural disasters. If those circumstances no longer pose a threat, refugees may consider returning home. However, some refugees may not feel safe to return, even if the situation has improved, due to fears of facing discrimination or retaliation.

Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada offer programs and assistance for refugees to safely and voluntarily return to their home country. One program is the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Program, which provides eligible refugees with financial assistance and other support services to ensure a safe return home. This program is meant to ensure that refugees have the necessary resources to successfully reintegrate into their home society.

Voluntary returns are an option for refugees in Canada, but the decision should not be taken lightly. Refugees may feel torn between the desire to return home and the fear of facing the same conditions that led them to flee in the first place. Ultimately, the decision to return should be made with consideration for the refugee’s safety and well-being, and with the assistance of trusted resources and guidance from Canadian authorities.

What are the risks and challenges that Canadian refugees may face if they return to their home country?

The decision to return to one’s home country is a deeply personal one, particularly for refugees who have fled due to persecution or conflict. While many may experience a strong desire to return home, there are significant risks and challenges that Canadian refugees may face if they do decide to return. Depending on the situation in their home country, refugees may face discrimination, persecution, or even death upon their return.

One major risk that Canadian refugees may face upon their return is political instability. Many refugees fled their home countries due to political conflict or persecution, and if they return during a time of continued instability, they may find themselves at risk once again. Additionally, refugees who have been living in Canada for an extended period of time may have lost touch with developments in their home country, leaving them unprepared to navigate the political and social climate upon their return.

Another challenge that refugees may face upon their return is the loss of support networks. Living in Canada, refugees have likely built a community of support, including friends, family, and community organizations. Upon their return, they may find themselves isolated and without the same level of support. In addition, refugees may have difficulty readjusting to cultural norms and expectations in their home country, adding to their sense of dislocation and isolation.

Are there any legal restrictions imposed on Canadian refugees who attempt to return to their home country?

Canadian refugees who have been granted asylum or refugee status in Canada may find it difficult or even impossible to return to their home country or country of origin. This is because of the legal restrictions that are imposed on refugees who have fled from countries where they face persecution or danger. These restrictions are put in place to ensure the safety and protection of refugees who have sought asylum in Canada.

The Canadian government considers the safety of refugees as one of its top priorities. As a result, refugees who want to return to their home country or country of origin may be required to seek permission from the Canadian government before doing so. In some cases, the Canadian government may refuse to grant permission for refugees to return to their home countries due to safety concerns.

Additionally, some refugees may also face legal consequences in their home countries if they attempt to return. For example, refugees who fled from countries where they were persecuted or politically outspoken may be at risk of arrest or imprisonment if they attempt to return. In other cases, refugees may also face persecution from their home governments or other groups once they return. Therefore, refugees are encouraged to consider their safety and seek legal advice before attempting to return to their home countries.

To what extent does the Canadian government provide support or assistance for refugees who want to return to their home country?

The Canadian government is committed to providing support and assistance for refugees who wish to return to their home country, but the extent of this support is limited. Canada recognizes that refugee crises can arise for a variety of reasons, including war, natural disasters, and persecution, and it is committed to ensuring that refugees have the option to return to their home countries if they so choose.

In general, the Canadian government provides support for refugees who wish to return home on a case-by-case basis. Assistance may include resettlement support, financial assistance, travel documentation, and help finding employment or housing in their home countries. However, the extent of this support can vary depending on the situation in each individual’s home country, the reasons for their initial flight, and other factors.

Ultimately, the Canadian government aims to ensure that refugees are able to exercise their right to return home safely, voluntarily, and with dignity. While the government recognizes that this may not be feasible or desirable for all refugees, it is committed to supporting those who choose to return to their home countries in any way it can.

How do Canadian authorities ensure the safety and security of refugees who return to their home country?

The Canadian authorities take the safety and security of refugees who choose to return to their home country very seriously. They work closely with international organizations and other countries to ensure that the refugees are safe when they return. Before allowing a refugee to return home, the authorities assess the current political and social situation in the country of origin to ensure that their safety and security are not compromised.

One of the ways in which the Canadian authorities ensure the safety and security of refugees who return to their home country is through the provision of financial assistance. The government provides financial assistance for transportation, resettlement, and other basic needs to refugees who choose to return home voluntarily. This financial assistance is essential because it helps refugees to establish sustainable livelihoods in their home countries and enables them to adapt to the new environment.

In addition, the authorities offer support services to help the refugees reintegrate into their communities. These services include access to adequate housing, education, and healthcare. By offering these support services, the Canadian authorities help to ensure that the refugees are better equipped to cope with the challenges of returning home. Overall, the Canadian authorities are committed to ensuring that refugees returning to their home country do so in a safe and secure manner.

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Can I travel outside Canada as a refugee?

Yes. If you're in Canada as a refugee, you can travel outside the country, but until you become a Canadian citizen, there are a few things to consider. This applies if you are a resettled refugee , whether privately sponsored or Government-Assisted, or you have been recognized as a protected person in Canada, either by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) or through the Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) process.

Required documents

You must apply through Passport Canada for a Refugee Travel Document in order to travel outside Canada.

Refugee travel document

A Refugee Travel Document can be used like a passport to travel to other countries, but will not allow you to return to your country of citizenship or to the country where you were persecuted.

This is not the same as having a Canadian passport. Countries that allow Canadians to enter without a visa may require a visa from a person travelling on a refugee travel document. You should always check the requirements for entry with the consulate or embassy of the country you'd like to visit when planning your trip.

The processing time for the travel document may vary. So, it is recommended that you wait until you have received your travel document and the necessary visas before making any specific travel plans.

To apply for a Refugee Travel Document, you must:

• Complete the application form under " Apply for a travel document for non-Canadians "
• Gather all necessary documents
• Obtain two identical passport photos
• Find a guarantor and two references
• Pay the fees

Important: If you came to Canada through a refugee resettlement program, or if you have been recognized as a refugee in Canada, you must not use a passport from your country of origin, as this could result in your status in Canada being revoked by cessation .

Re-entering Canada with a permanent resident card

If you are a permanent resident of Canada, a permanent resident card is required to re-enter the country . Make sure that your permanent resident card does not expire during your trip. If it does, you can obtain a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) while you're abroad.

For more information

• What does the word “refugee” mean? - An article from WelcomeOntario.
• Losing your right to remain in Canada: Cessation - You may consult the Canadian Council for Refugees summary.
• How can I get travel documents if I am a protected person in Canada? - An article from Settlement.Org.
• Can I lose my refugee status? - You will find information on the circumstances that can lead to the loss of refugee status on the website of Steps to Justice.

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IRCC Deputy Minister Transition Binder 2024 – Family Reunification

[ Redacted ] appears where sensitive information has been removed in accordance with the principles of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act .

The Family Reunification Program Allows Canadian Citizens And Permanent Residents To Sponsor Certain Relatives To Immigrate To Canada As Permanent Residents. The Program Delivers The Family Reunification Component Of The Immigration And Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), Sub-Section 12(1).

• Family reunification is one of three pillars of permanent immigration to Canada (alongside economic immigration and refugee protection). The Program reflects the IRPA objective “to see that families are reunited in Canada”. Program criteria are centered on the genuineness of a relationship between an applicant and a sponsor (Canadian or Permanent Resident relative).
• Foreign nationals can apply from overseas (i.e., the Family Class) or from within Canada (i.e., the Spouse or Common-Law Partner In Canada Class).
• Spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners
• Parents and grandparents
• Dependent children: defined largely as under age 22 (or 22 or older if not financially self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition); biological or adopted, including intercountry adoptions
• Other relatives in special circumstances: includes orphaned relatives under 18; last remaining relative
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or status Indian residing in Canada (with certain exceptions Footnote 1 )
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Sign an undertaking to support their sponsored family for a defined period of time – between three years (spouses and partners) and 20 years (parents and grandparents – repaying any provincial social assistance given to the sponsored person during that period.
• The Family Reunification Program complements other immigration streams. For example, an economic immigrant may later sponsor a spouse or parent. The program can help attract highly skilled economic immigrants who may want to sponsor their family.
• Spouses and Partners: While applicants are not specifically selected for their skills, data demonstrate that they contribute to Canada’s economy, often in sectors where labour market shortages exist (sales and services occupations; trade, transport and equipment operators and related occupations). Their incidence of employment is similar to the overall average for the Canadian population with slightly lower annual earnings.
• Parents and Grandparents (PGP): Given the average age at admission, they are not expected to contribute significantly to the labour market. However, sponsored PGPs contribute as economic enablers, for example, through the provision of child care, which allows sponsors to work or upgrade their skills.
• Family Class applicants provide emotional and social support and enrich the social and cultural fabric of communities across the country. Some evidence suggests that immigrants coming to join family may be more likely to remain in Canada.

Current Program

• The family class accounted for 23% (109,580 persons admitted) of all permanent immigration to Canada in 2023. This represented an increase of 12.5% compared to the same period in 2022.
• While family immigration impacts all jurisdictions across Canada, under the Canada-Québec Accord, Quebec has the authority to determine and assess the financial criteria for family class sponsorship agreements for Quebec-destined applicants.
• If accompanying family members admitted under other permanent resident streams (e.g., economic and refugee) are included, the family reunification objective of the program increases to approximately 60% of total permanent resident admissions.

Key Statistics: Two Core Categories

• Service standard of 12 months for overseas spouses and partners (80% of the time).
• No service standard for in-Canada spouses and partners.
• Since 2019, spouses/partners in Canada who have submitted an application as a sponsored spouse/partner and are experiencing abuse on the part of their sponsor may apply for a temporary resident permit and/or expedited humanitarian and compassionate permanent resident application.
• Annual intake limits (“caps”) since 2014 to help manage demand, inventory levels and processing times.
• No processing service standard.
• Random selection model helps to ensure the process is fair and transparent, and that all interested sponsors have an equal opportunity to be invited to apply.
• Super Visa: Since 2011, PGPs may access a special temporary resident visa valid for up to 10 years that allows stays in Canada of five years per entry.

Recent Developments

Spouses and partners:.

• The Department has implemented several measures to support and accelerate the processing of spousal sponsorship applications. These innovations include file digitization, remote processing, conducting remote interviews, the use of Advanced Analytics, the introduction of an online application portal, an increased number of decision makers assigned to permanent residence applications, and tools to facilitate the processing of these files.
• Moreover, on May 26, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced new measures to strengthen family reunification, including faster temporary resident visa processing so that families can be together sooner while they wait for their permanent residence to be finalized. Going forward, the visitor visa applications will be processed within 30 days. IRCC also announced a temporary public policy to issue open work permits to spousal applicants and their dependent children who reside with their sponsor in Canada and have a valid temporary resident status.

Parents and Grandparents:

• Interested sponsors submit an Interest to Sponsor form; and
• The Department randomly selects and invites a limited number of interested sponsors to submit applications.
• The Minister has decided for another year to re-use the 2020 Interest to Sponsor pool for the 2024 PGP intake and draw from remaining submissions to target the receipt of 20,500 applications [ redacted ]
• [ Redacted ]

Quebec Admissions:

• Wait times for Quebec-destined applicants in the PGP Program as of January 9, 2024: 48 months. Rest of Canada: 24 months.
• Double or longer wait times are also occurring for spousal sponsorship cases destined to Quebec, which has led to recent media interest and calls for IRCC intervention.
• The Minister has reached out to Quebec’s Minister of Immigration to offer for IRCC to process Quebec-destined family class applications that already have a valid certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), but the offer was not accepted [ Redacted ]

Upcoming milestones

• As IRCC matures in its ability to deliver client-centric policies, programs and services, there is an opportunity to explore enhancements to family immigration pathways, such as a redesign of the PGP Program, to promote fairness and efficiency. As well, as the modern vision of family evolves, IRCC could re-examine more fundamentally the definition of family used in the immigration context, which has not changed since IRPA was established in 2002. This has been identified as an action item in the Strategic Immigration Review “We will consider lessons learned from understanding family compositions from various parts of the world, and implement more inclusive measures when possible”.

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Middle East Crisis Israeli Airstrike in Rafah Kills Dozens in Tent Camp, Gazan Officials Say

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Israel says the strike targeted a Hamas compound.

An Israeli airstrike on a makeshift tent camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah, Gaza, killed at least 45 people on Sunday night and wounded 249, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Monday. The Israeli military said the strike was aimed at a Hamas compound.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it was looking into reports that “several civilians in the area were harmed” by the airstrike and a subsequent fire. A follow-up statement said the strike had killed two Hamas leaders. A legal official with the military said Monday that the strike was under review.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said that its ambulance crews had taken a “large” number of victims to the Tal as Sultan clinic and field hospitals in Rafah, where few functioning hospitals remain, and that “numerous” people had been trapped in fires at the site of the strikes.

The Red Crescent said the strike hit the Tal as Sultan area of Rafah, within what the Israeli military has designated as a humanitarian zone, where it had told Palestinian civilians to go for shelter ahead of its ground offensive in Rafah. But two Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, said the strike was not inside a humanitarian zone.

Israel’s assault on Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, has come under intense scrutiny, particularly after the International Court of Justice on Friday ordered Israel to “immediately” halt the military offensive there. Though the court has few effective means of enforcing its order, it puts more pressure on the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to rein in its attacks in Gaza and reduce civilian casualties.

Bilal al-Sapti, 30, a construction worker in Rafah, said that shrapnel from the strike tore up the tent where he was staying with his wife and two children, but that his family was uninjured.

“What kind of a tent will protect us from missiles and shrapnel?” he said.

Mr. al-Sapti said that at the scene of the strike he saw charred bodies and people screaming as firefighters tried to put out the flames. “The fire was very strong and was all over the camp,” he said. “There was darkness and no electricity.”

Doctors Without Borders said more than 15 dead people and dozens of wounded in the Rafah strike were brought to a trauma stabilization center that it supports in Tal as Sultan.

Dr. James Smith, a British emergency specialist in Rafah who has been working at that center, said the attack had killed displaced people who were “seeking some degree of sanctuary and shelter in tarpaulin tents.”

Speaking from a house a few miles away from the trauma center, a distance that he said had become too dangerous to cross, Dr. Smith said footage shared by his colleagues at the trauma center of injuries from the strike and the fire were “truly some of the worst that I have seen.”

Though the United Nations estimates that more than 800,000 people fled Rafah in a matter of weeks after the Israeli military announced its offensive, the area remains densely populated, Dr. Smith said.

“These are very, very tightly packed tents,” he said. “And a fire like this could spread over a huge distance with catastrophic consequences in a very, very short space of time.”

The attack was “one of the most horrific things that I have seen or heard of in all of the weeks that I’ve been working in Gaza,” he added.

Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the Israeli military’s top legal official, said on Monday that the airstrike was under review. She said the military police had opened around 70 criminal investigations into potential misconduct during the war.

“Naturally, in a war of such scope and intensity, complex incidents also occur,” General Tomer-Yerushalmi said in a speech to the Israeli Bar Association. “Some of the incidents, like last night’s incident in Rafah, are very serious.” She added that the military “regrets any harm to uninvolved civilians during the war.”

Reporting was contributed by Patrick Kingsley , Johnatan Reiss , Iyad Abuheweila and Aaron Boxerman .

— Anushka Patil

key developments

Cease-fire talks, and other news.

Israel’s war cabinet was set to meet on Sunday night to discuss continuing efforts to reach a cease-fire deal and free hostages held in Gaza, according to an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the talks. Diplomats are aiming to restart negotiations for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas at some point in the next week, according to three officials briefed on the process. According to the officials, preliminary discussions were held this weekend in Paris .

Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet who recently threatened to quit the government , said he was seeking to establish an independent commission to investigate Israel’s failure to stop the Hamas-led surprise attack on Oct. 7, as well as its conduct in the war. Under Mr. Gantz’s proposal, the commission would also probe whether Israeli military and political officials had acted in accordance with international law. Mr. Gantz said on Sunday that he had submitted his proposal for cabinet approval; it was unclear whether Mr. Netanyahu and his allies would back the move. A rival of Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Gantz has said he would leave Israel’s emergency wartime government unless the prime minister answered major questions about the future of the war.

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Hamas fires rockets at central Israel for the first time in months.

Hamas launched a barrage of rockets at central Israel on Sunday afternoon, setting off air-raid sirens in the Tel Aviv area for the first time since at least late January, and showing that the group retains some long-range missile capabilities more than seven months into Israel’s war against the militant group in Gaza.

The Israeli military said at least eight rockets were fired from the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where Israeli forces have been advancing in an operation against Hamas that has drawn global scrutiny. Over 800,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah in the face of the Israeli offensive, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the enclave, according to the United Nations.

Air defenses shot down “a number” of rockets, according to the Israeli military, and there were no immediate reports of major damage.

Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency service, said two women were lightly wounded as they fled to a bomb shelter. Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, took responsibility for the rocket fire, saying it came “in response to massacres against civilians.”

Israeli leaders have insisted for months that a large-scale ground operation in Rafah was necessary to root out the brigades of Hamas militants that remain in the city. The Biden administration, the United Nations and human rights groups have all expressed serious concern over the offensive, which they said threatened the safety of civilians sheltering there.

On Friday, the International Court of Justice appeared to order Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah, although at least some of the court’s judges said limited operations could continue despite the decision.

The Israeli military said its troops continued to fight in and around Rafah over the weekend, engaging in firefights. And on Sunday, Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defense minister, visited the city, indicating that the military had no intention of stopping. Mr. Gallant received a situational assessment from troops there and was briefed on the “deepening of operations,” according to a statement from his office.

“Our goals in Gaza are emphasized here in Rafah — to destroy Hamas, return the hostages, and maintain freedom of operation,” he told troops, according to the statement.

Israeli politicians also said the rocket fire demonstrated the necessity of the Rafah offensive. Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, called the incident proof that “wherever Hamas is, the Israeli military must act.”

The rocket barrage briefly disrupted daily life in central Israel, where many people have settled into a kind of wartime routine. Thousands of Israelis called up for the military’s reserves in the aftermath of the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks have returned home, and rocket attacks have been largely aimed at communities close to the border with Gaza and with Lebanon.

— Aaron Boxerman

Aid deliveries from Egypt resume going into Gaza.

Aid trucks from Egypt entered the Gaza Strip on Sunday under a new U.S.-brokered agreement to reopen a vital conduit for humanitarian relief, the Israeli military and the Egyptian Red Crescent said.

Egypt had blocked aid from entering the enclave via its territory since Israel’s seizure of the Rafah crossing — which provides access to southern Gaza — in early May. The two sides have traded blame over that crossing’s closure, even as aid has piled up on the Egyptian side.

After U.S. pressure, Egypt announced on Friday that it had agreed to divert trucks through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, which is roughly two miles from the Rafah crossing, as a temporary measure.

Some 126 trucks from Egypt containing food, fuel and other necessities entered the Gaza Strip through Kerem Shalom on Sunday, the Israeli military said in a statement. The trucks were inspected by Israeli officials, said Ahmad Ezzat, an Egyptian Red Crescent official.

The quantity of food, water and medicines reaching Gazans has plummeted since the war began nearly eight months ago. As a result, the United Nations and aid groups have been warning of widespread hunger in the enclave and urging Israel to open more routes for aid to enter. But in recent weeks, aid shipments into Gaza through the two main land conduits have been interrupted.

One of those crossings is Kerem Shalom, which sits at the intersection of Gaza, Israel and Egypt. Israel temporarily closed Kerem Shalom a few weeks ago after a Hamas rocket attack there killed four of its soldiers. Since then Israel has allowed some aid into Gaza through Kerem Shalom , but its distribution has been a point of contention. Israel says that aid agencies must distribute the aid. But the agencies say that the Israeli military’s activity in southern Gaza has made their job nearly impossible.

The other major gateway for aid is between Gaza and Egypt, at Rafah. Israeli forces captured the crossing as part of their initial advance toward the city overnight on May 6. Since then, Israeli, Egyptian and Palestinian officials have been unable to strike a deal to resume aid shipments there.

Israel has been under international pressure to find a way to reopen Rafah to prevent an even greater humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. On Friday, the World Court ordered Israel to “open the Rafah crossing for unhindered provision” of aid. Israel pledged to do so, but said it would also “prevent terrorist organizations from controlling the crossing.”

When the Rafah crossing closed, the Egyptian government also initially held out on sending aid trucks toward Kerem Shalom, in what American and Israeli officials called an attempt to pressure Israel to back down from its operation in Rafah.

On Friday, Egypt and the United States announced that Cairo had agreed to temporarily allow food, basic supplies and fuel to move from its territory into Gaza through Kerem Shalom. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the Egyptian president, emphasized that the measure was a stopgap until “a new legal mechanism” could be found on the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing.

It remains unclear when the Rafah crossing will reopen for aid. U.S. officials are expected to head to Cairo this week to “support efforts to reopen the Rafah crossing,” according to the White House.

— Aaron Boxerman and Vivek Shankar