Keep Your Citizens Close: Building A Policy Framework in Response to Canada’s Returning Foreign Fighters

This Major Research Paper examines the irregular migration of Canadian citizens who engaged in terrorism abroad, specifically Syria and Iraq, and who are now returning home. The paper examines how they were radicalized into adopting an ideology that stands against the individuals’ home state and how they can be reintegrated once they have returned. The paper acknowledges that this is not the first instance of Canadian foreign fighters, but is the first time where they pose a threat to Canada. Since this threat must be addressed in some way, the paper examines different strategies to mitigate any risk to other Canadian citizens and to counter any future radicalization of Canadian citizens. Keywords: Irregular Migration; Terrorism; Foreign Fighter; Radicalization; Deradicalization; Disengagement