Canada’s Capacity to Resettle Refugees is Limited, Minister Says Amid US Policy Shift

(Image courtesy CBC)

Canada has limited capacity to resettle refugees, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Friday, as the country prepares for a potential increase in asylum seekers following recent changes to US immigration policy.

This week, US President Donald Trump signed executive orders that included a temporary suspension of the country’s refugee resettlement program. The decision affects thousands of individuals in conflict zones who had been approved for resettlement in the United States.

Speaking to reporters before a Liberal caucus meeting in Ottawa, Miller described the US policy shift as “unfortunate” but underscored Canada’s ongoing commitment to “providing support” to people fleeing conflict. He also acknowledged the practical limitations on Canada’s ability to bring in more refugees.

“Canada will continue to remain a humanitarian country. We have limited ability to welcome people in a proper way,” Miller said.

Miller highlighted Canada’s efforts to date, noting that the country has resettled more than 50,000 Afghans since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. Additionally, Canada is hosting more than 300,000 Ukrainians displaced by the ongoing war with Russia. Over the years, Canada has also taken in tens of thousands of refugees from Syria.

“So, there is limited capacity, but if there are opportunities, we’ll certainly look at them,” he said. “We will continue to do our job as a country that does have a heart and does care about resettlement of people that are fleeing war.”

Trump’s executive order, signed earlier this week, temporarily halts refugee processing and travel to the United States for at least three months. Initially, the policy allowed for arrivals until January 27. However, internal communications from the US refugee program obtained by The Associated Press suggest that all arrivals have now been suspended “until further notice.”

The decision has left many approved refugees in limbo, including an estimated 15,000 Afghans currently in Pakistan. These individuals were cleared through a US government program designed to assist Afghans facing risks due to their work with American agencies, international organizations, and human rights groups following the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in 2021.

Miller’s remarks highlight the logistical and resource challenges Canada faces as it continues to balance its humanitarian commitments with its capacity to accommodate refugees during ongoing global conflicts.