Evaluating Ontario immigration detention centres through the lens of non-governmental organizations

This Masters Research Paper provides a critical analysis of the behavioural practices of immigration detention centres and how that affects the abilities of NGOs to support immigration detainees. This paper aims to identify the covert racism that is embedded within immigration detention centres in Canada, exploring how racialized detainees are susceptible to longer detention periods and mal-treatment due to increasing securitization. There will be focus on Ontario immigration detention centres in particular since many of Canada’s asylum claims and detention processes occur in Toronto and the greater Toronto area. This research fills the gap in directly addressing the impacts of racist practices of detention and how it impacts detainees’ ability to seek proper legal aid and interferes with NGOs abilities to aid detainees through their detention process. The methodology used begins with a theoretical framework using Critical Race Theory and background content on immigration detention centres, while drawing out the process of the criminalization of refugees. For this study there were one-on-on interviews conducted with 3 participants who are NGO representatives. Key words: immigration detention centre, detainees, national security, criminalization