Recently, former member of the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) and lawyer James Yousif released a report through the C.D. Howe Institute that has attracted widespread attention. Titled “Accepting Asylum Claims Without Hearings: A Critique of the IRB’s ‘File Review’ Policy”, the report reveals that since 2019, the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board has quietly approved tens of thousands of asylum applications through a paper-based procedure called “File Review,” without any in-person questioning or hearings.
The policy has been criticized as a “rubber-stamp” process, highly susceptible to fraud, and one that seriously circumvents national security screening mechanisms.
The report notes that while the policy was originally intended to alleviate the backlog of refugee claims, it has had the opposite effect. In 2016, Canada’s refugee backlog was about 17,000 cases; by the end of 2025, this number had skyrocketed to nearly 300,000, an increase of 1,450 percent. Despite the IRB doubling its annual output of decisions and expanding staff from fewer than 1,000 to over 2,500, the backlog has not decreased but instead grown explosively.
Internal documents obtained by Yousif through access-to-information requests show that between January 2019 and February 2023, at least 24,599 people were granted asylum solely through paper review, without appearing in person, receiving approval notifications by mail. The actual number is likely higher, as the policy remains in effect.
‘Fast-track’ procedures
Even more concerning, the policy establishes “fast-track” procedures for applicants from certain countries and claim types, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Russia, Pakistan, and Iran—countries considered high-risk. Many of these countries host active terrorist organizations recognized by the Canadian government. Internal briefings acknowledge that these countries are precisely the ones “for which public safety departments have the greatest concern regarding non-acceptance and exclusion.”
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The report emphasizes that in-person hearings are the most effective means of detecting fraud, testing credibility, and screening for national security risks. Eliminating this step opens the system to forged documents and false narratives. Yousif warns that this effectively sends a signal to international fraud and human smuggling networks: applicants from certain countries can face less scrutiny and faster processing, attracting more fraudulent claims.
Canada’s asylum approval rate is about 80 percent, nearly double that of Ireland, Sweden, Germany, and Belgium. In contrast, in December 2025, the Trump administration expanded travel restrictions on countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, and Somalia, citing “clear, ongoing, and severe deficiencies” in their screening and vetting processes.
Many of these same countries (except Somalia) appear on the IRB’s File Review list. While the U.S. restricts entry for safety reasons, Canada accepts asylum claims from nationals of these countries without any direct interaction.
The report further notes that once fraudulent claims are approved, they carry long-term fiscal and social consequences: applicants gain permanent residence, family reunification, healthcare, and social services, with costs accumulating over decades and difficult to reverse.
This mirrors fraud cases in some U.S. states, such as Minnesota, which have sparked intense controversy.
Yousif argues that the “File Review” policy not only fails to reduce the backlog but may also systematically favor rapid approvals over rejections—since the latter require more work and follow-up review—creating a systemic bias.
He calls for the immediate termination of the policy and the restoration of in-person hearings as the default for asylum adjudication, in order to restore the integrity and credibility of Canada’s asylum system.
This finding comes as Canada faces a surge in irregular migration, industrial-scale fraud, and organized crime exploiting the border, prompting public reflection on national security, economic burden, and immigration governance.
Experts warn that without timely reform, gaps in Canada’s asylum system could continue to be exploited by transnational crime and terrorist networks.
