Surrey BC Mayor ‘Appalled’ as Extortion Suspects Seek Asylum to Avoid Deportation

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke speaks during a news conference at Surrey Police headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Nov. 29, 2024. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says that suspects in a rash of extortion cases are abusing Canada’s immigration system in claiming refugee status to avoid deportation.

“I am appalled to learn that suspects identified by B.C.’s Extortion Task Force are claiming refugee status to evade deportation,” Locke posted on X on Dec. 11. “Law-abiding Canadians and foreign nationals in our city deserve better than to see our legal and immigration systems abused by criminals to extend their stay in Canada.”

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) confirmed to The Epoch Times that 15 individuals under investigation by police for extortion-related cases have filed refugee claims, which are now pending a decision by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

B.C. municipalities Surrey, Delta, and Abbotsford have had over 100 extortion incidents reported so far this year, according to police, while Metro Vancouver police are investigating 44 extortion cases including 27 involving gunshots being fired at businesses, homes, and vehicles.

Locke said her city has been particularly negatively affected by extortion and called on Ottawa to “fix” its immigration and refugee system in order to ensure those convicted are held responsible.

“Surrey has been disproportionately impacted by these extortion attempts, and those responsible must face swift justice,“ Locke wrote. ”The federal government must move to immediately fix Canada’s immigration and deportation laws to protect our communities. Guests in our country who break our laws need to be sent home.”

Foreign Nationals

The CBSA told The Epoch Times in a statement that its Pacific Region conducted its first extortion-related immigration investigation on Aug. 26 of this year, prior to the Sept. 17 launch of the B.C. Extortion Task Force.

In total, the agency said the CBSA’s Pacific Region task force is investigating 103 foreign nationals in extortion-related cases who may be inadmissible for immigration to Canada. The agency said 11 of these suspects have been issued a removal order and five have already been deported.

The B.C. Extortion Task Force is responsible for the criminal investigation, while the CBSA performs a supporting role in assessing the admissibility of foreign nationals to immigrate to Canada.

“Task Force partner agencies have identified many persons of interest whose suspected links to extortion may be in Canada without status and/or in violation of immigration conditions,” CBSA spokesperson Luke Reimer said in a Dec. 11 email. “These cases are then referred to the CBSA to pursue an investigation into their immigration status and for possible enforcement action.”

Reimer added that although Canada has legal obligations to fully process an asylum claim if the case is eligible, the CBSA notifies the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) if they believe a refugee claimant is involved in serious crimes.

“If the CBSA believes a claimant is inadmissible on specific, more serious grounds – that is security, violating human or international rights, serious criminality, or organized criminality – we will report them as such before the Immigration Division of the IRB, resulting in a suspension of refugee proceedings until an admissibility finding is made,” Reimer said.

“Persons found inadmissible for these serious reasons would be issued a removal order and not allowed to proceed with their refugee claim.”

Provincial and Federal Funding

At a Nov. 28 press conference announcing $1 million from Ottawa and B.C. for victims of extortion, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said that the rash of extortion incidents are being committed by criminals of various kinds “whose singular focus is money.”

B.C. Premier David Eby, who appeared alongside Anandasangaree for the Nov. 28 announcement, said the profusion of extortion is making B.C. residents feel unsafe.

“Anyone who is facing these threats, they cannot rest at home and feel comfortable and safe. They’re worried about their businesses,” he said.

In addition to the $1 million for victims of extortion, Ottawa said Nov. 28 that it will also disburse $4 million to fund a regional integrated drug enforcement team comprised of law and border enforcement officers who are tasked with stopping organized drug crime and extortion crimes.

Just prior to the Nov. 28 announcement, police in India announced the arrest of 28-year-old Bandhu Maan Singh Sekhon, who they identified as the “prime conspirator” in a series of extortion-related shootings at Kap’s Café in Surrey. The shootings occurred July 10, Aug. 7, and Oct. 16. No injuries were reported but significant damage was done to the café.

Sekhon entered Canada in September of 2023 on a work visa and has confessed to the three shootings, according to Indian police.

Chandra Philip contributed to this report.