The City of Toronto announced that undocumented migrants are welcome to live in Toronto, reiterating their commitment to serving as a sanctuary city.

“The City is committed to supporting all residents, regardless of immigration status,” the City’s post read on X. 

“Join us on Aug 20 for Undocumented Residents Day event and learn about the realities, challenges and contributions undocumented Torontonians make to our city.”

Toronto was the first city in Canada to adopt a sanctuary city policy in 2013. Since then, Hamilton (ON), Vancouver (BC), London (ON), Edmonton (AB), Ajax (ON), and Montreal (QC) have also adopted sanctuary policies, though some have different limitations.  

The term effectively means that the city will not disclose the identities or locations of undocumented citizens to federal authorities, even if those identities are revealed when accessing city services such as receiving child care subsidies, in order to help them avoid deportation.

Half a million foreigners illegally living in Canada 

Canada’s immigration policies have come under intense scrutiny in recent years, and risen to the top of the public’s radar.

Half a million foreigners are illegally residing in Canada, most of whom have come to Canada on student visas, then refused to leave when legally required.

To address the problem, the Liberal Immigration Minister suggested earlier this year that the solution might be to simply give in and “regularize their status.”

Documents also reveal that nearly 50,000 failed refugee claimants remain in Canada despite being aware their asylum request was denied.