Shantell Powell<p>Yesterday, Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced Bill C-2, a 126 page omnibus bill misleadingly titled the "Strong Borders Act." While it is being framed as border security legislation, this Bill is actually a shameful capitulation to racism and xenophobia that abandons Canada's legal and moral obligations to refugees and migrants. The Bill also massively increases policing and surveillance powers which have historically been used against racialized people. </p><p>What Bill C-2 Will Do If Passed</p><p>Blocks Refugee Applications After One Year: If you've been in Canada for more than one year, Bill C-2 says you CAN'T apply for refugee protection – even if your home country becomes dangerous AFTER you arrive. This applies retroactively to EVERYONE who arrived after June 24, 2020.</p><p>Creates a Mass Deportation Machine: The bill allows officials to cancel or suspend immigration documents for ENTIRE GROUPS of people without going through courts. The Immigration Minister gains unchecked power to:<br>Cancel work, study, or refugee claimant permits overnight</p><p>Throw out permanent residency applications</p><p>Remove status from thousands at the same time </p><p>Eliminates US Border Refugee Exception: Currently, if you cross from the US between official border crossings and avoid detection for 14 days, you can then apply for refugee status in Canada. </p><p>Bill C-2 ELIMINATES this exception completely – meaning people fleeing Trump's persecution will be even more trapped.</p><p>Removes Privacy Protections: The government wants power to share private information about migrants between all levels of government without restrictions. </p><p>This change will expose migrants to further abuse. For example, undocumented workers could face deportation for trying to assert their labour rights against exploitative employers because of information sharing with border enforcement.</p><p>We Are Already In Crisis</p><p>Right now, 3,000+ study and work permits are already expiring EVERY DAY under current policies. Bill C-2 will make this humanitarian catastrophe infinitely worse.<br>This isn't about border security or US Tarrifs – it's about the deliberate expansion of a mass deportation machine designed to tear apart families and communities. </p><p>TAKE ACTION NOW!</p><p> <a href="https://nwmd.social/s/copylink/4AqDaUeLeuDMwLGKnO8=/b" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">nwmd.social/s/copylink/4AqDaUe</span><span class="invisible">LeuDMwLGKnO8=/b</span></a><br><a href="https://c.im/tags/canada" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>canada</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/authoritarianism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>authoritarianism</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/xenophobia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>xenophobia</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/racism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>racism</span></a></p>