Citizenship and Immigration Law

From programming and advocacy to peer recognition and relevant resources, OBA Section membership connects you with education, engagement and leadership opportunities to propel you to the forefront of your area of practice.

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Resources, Articles, & Advocacy

Article | July 02, 2025

Digital Borders and Racial Codes in AI Migration Control

This article examines the growing use of artificial intelligence in migration systems, focusing on tools like IRCC’s Chinook platform and the UNHCR’s Project Jetson. It raises concerns about how these technologies may reinforce systemic bias, limit procedural fairness, and reduce transparency in decision-making. Drawing on recent Federal Court decisions and critical legal theory, the piece calls for stronger safeguards and a more accountable, rights-based approach to technology in immigration governance.

Article | July 02, 2025

Artificial Intelligence in Immigration Practice: Why Our Files Now Meet the Algorithm First

A recent CPD session explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping Canadian immigration processing. Experts from the Federal Court, IRCC, DOJ, academia, and private practice discussed IRCC’s use of automation to triage and approve files, the legal framework behind these systems, and the privacy and oversight issues they raise. As AI becomes more central to decision making, counsel must build the skills to understand, challenge, and navigate these tools to ensure fairness and protect their clients.

Legislative Update | June 27, 2025

Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of June 23

Crime Bill with Tougher Bail, Sentencing Provisions Coming in Fall: The federal government will table a bill this fall introducing stricter bail conditions and sentencing for some crimes, particularly those involving organized crime, human trafficking, home invasion and car theft. Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the government will “at minimum” implement the crime policies the Liberals promised during the spring federal election. These include making bail more difficult to get for some offences. They also promised tougher sentencing guidelines for repeat car thieves and violent and organized crime, and to allow for consecutive sentencing for some cases of car theft and for serious and violent offences.

Article | June 24, 2025

Foreign Expertise, Local Impact: The Quiet Necessity of Foreign Legal Consultants

Where legal practice intersects with immigration, international families, and global financial matters, foreign law is not a complication; it is the context. Canadian courts have always operated with the understanding that foreign law, when relevant, must be treated as a question of fact. But as our legal and social realities evolve, so too does the need for clarity, structure, and cultural literacy when presenting those facts. This is where Certified Foreign Legal Consultants (FLCs) become indispensable.

Advocacy | June 11, 2025

Your OBA LegUp Policy and Legislative Update Week of June 9