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Agence dee services PROTECTED B

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Audience: Senior Executives and Qperatkrnal Managers Issued: IEC 2015

Enforcement and Intelligence Priority Sewnty Expiry: MAR2016
lnteI1igencL Operations and Analysis I)ivision

Potential National Sedurih Concerns with Syrians

Nat ion a Is
loAI)_2015I)I:(003

Recommended for Shift Briefing

Highllghts

Less than of Syrian nationals have been reported or refused entry to Canada due to
national security concerns in the past five years. (PA)

Background

1. The number of Syrians fleeing the conflict in Syria to neighbouring countries has surpassed four
million As of October 19, 2015, there are 4 180,631 Syrians registered by the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) There are 2 1 million Syrians registered by the UNHCR in
Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan. 1 9 million in Turkey, and an additional 26,700 in North Africa
Three-quarters of the fleeing Syrian population are woman aM children, with children alone
making up 51% of the population. (U)
Syrian Refugee Population Demography
Male (49.7%) Age (50.3%) Female
8.9% 0-4
10,8% 5-il 10.2%
6.6% 12-17 6.2%
22.1% IS-9 iaiii 23.8%
13% 60+ 1.7%
Sourn LJNi-TCR. GovcnusenL of Turkey

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canad
This document is the property bf the Canada larder Sces Agency (CEtSA) and should tiul be reclassified or dissenisnated without prior fo the
originator. Ibe information must be atonal. traressutted, and safeguarded in accordance with ite dasalficatton level, as outlined to the Government Secusily
Policy and the CBSASecwuty Policies. U access is requested under the Avcou in l4rraafion Ad or the Pi+acy Act, no decision huu1d be taicrnwithoui prkr
consultation with the originator, as the information may be subject to eremptiUns Requesis for additlt,nal use should be forwarded to the [ttteliigence
Cperations and Analysis Diviain inatlbox
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frcntaflais du Canada

2. The civil war in Syria started in 2011 when the authoritarian regirneof President Bashar Assad
began using deadly military force to quell civil protesta calling for reform and democracy The
conflict evolved from opposition against President Assad to a sectarian war between th wuntrys
Swini majority and the presidents Slim Alawite sect This drew in neighbounng countries and gave
rise to the involvement ofjihadist groups like the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (1511 ), Al
Qaeda (AQ) and other smaller associated groups ISII now controls large portions of terntory
across northern and eastern Syria, as well as neighbouring Iraq Its many foreign fighters in Syria
are now involved in battling rebels and jihadists from the alTQaedaaffihiated Nusra Front, asweIl as
Kurdish and government forces, (U)

3 The Government of Canada has promised to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015,
with a flirther 15,000 to arrive by the end of February 2016, This has raised national security
concerns

4. Currently, security screen[ngineasures ensure that alIindividualscoming to Canada

will be subject to intensive screening before entering the country. If the
applicants meet set out by the CI3SA and Canadian Security Intelligence
Service (CSJS), they are checked carefully against all immigration databases. They
undergo extensive medical checks and criminal background checks, which may include
fingerprinting Experienced immigration officers also conduct overseas, in-person interviews with
those seeking refuge or immigrating to Canada. (PA)

Analysis

5 All inadmissibility reports and lookouts issued to Sy nan nationdis between January 2010 and
September 30 2015 were examined to analyze what type of security concerns Syrian nationak have
posed in the past Over the past five years of the 11,654 Syrian nationals that entered Canada
through the temporary resident, permanent rcsident (PR) and in-Canada refugee stream
(PA)

A34
inadmissibility A35(. crimes)
Reports A36 (Crime)

A37 (Organized Crime)

2 Rr RI, HcN SERJICE. lNTRGR I I

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INs dncwiwnt AthEpfOpUTty 01 the CUOAdU B0lSEFSUUVkE$ A5ACE7 (Cii$A) REId buid Elot b THClaSSiflEd OF d 5005051Cd wlthuI prior anaasn o the
npnssor The IS >TOlatft50 muSt b 4d iSIIRDStI(4 and ASk5uSrdMd 111 aCCOrdance with itS CIASAthCAIIGO isi, CGI1SiWd SI tht (,ovemmeni Sennity
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ohcie, it acces iS tUlUESted under the Acnss k, hTIniatlCO t, or tile Prt SC Act no decision sht,uid be taken without prIor
5
cOft%UltabOSl with ti cIrumator its thE miormittion itaiy lit COliect to lions, RequestS for addIbcnoi nice should be forwarded to the llience
Operations ndAniilsiit ithdOn tsitiibe
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I.i Setce Agency ersd Cenad

Lookouts r crimes)
A3i 1crline

Inadmissibility Reports

6. The majority of Syrian nationals with inadmissibility reports filed under section 44 of the
Immigration and Refugee Protection 4c1 (1RPA) were reported for criminality There were 18
subjects reported for serious criminality under section 36(1 )(a) of IRPA The most commonly
reported offences were crimes such as :fraud theft and robbery under the Criminal Code and drug
trafficking under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act. (PB)

7, There was only one subject reported for security (A34) concerns and one subject reported for war
crimes (A35) concerns.

Lookouts

During this time, lookouts were placed on

individuals who were known perpetrators of human rights violations and those that posed a security
threat to Canada Lookouts are placed as a safe measure to ensure there is a mechanism in place to
prevent known securhy risks from entering Canada.

9.

3 PROI E. RON SERVO N rEGRI v

Danad
This dorument ii the property cit th (anada Border Services Agency lCBA) and ehornid not be redeasided or dratenirnated rithout prior consent cit he
ongIrralor The triforenribon must be stored trasentited. and safeguarded in accordance with 515 dassm&stwn iced as outhcerd in the Government SecurIty
Policy arid the (BoA Sccunty Pohcmes it access Is requested under the Access 10 Irfbrnrrriisrr Ad or die inoan, Act no derisIon should be taken without prior
consultation with the originator as the inuorrnatson may be sulert to ecemphona. Requests fcir additrornisi use shouto be forwarded l the Intelligence
Operations and Analysts DivIsion mai1bo
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frontaliere ths Canada

10.

I.

Implications for the Canada Border Services Agency (CUSA) and Canada

12. Syrian refugees represent a relatively low security threat. The majority of fleeing Syrians are
women and children, with men between the ages of 18 and 59 making up 22% of that population.

13.

4 .I:E
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Canad
This documenL s the property cC the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and should not b teclassifed ordtsae,mnaLed without prior cmsent ci the
onginat. The infrtnaUon niust be tiored. lrnsmttted. and safeguarded in scCordane with its dassthration level. as outlined in the Government Securfty
Police arid the Cl5A beudiy Polides II access is resuested under the Aoms in infuraiatien Actor thThthav Act, nodedsion should bc tslnai wtthoutprhr
consultation Mth the riintor, as the information may be aubed to esempthi Requests for ad4ttessal use should be forwarded to the [nteflige
OpetatiOnserid Analysis )ivisiontnailbos
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I*i Servica Agency *cniahes Canada

14, Security lookouts and security screening procedures serves as migration strategies to ensure that
individuals that pose a security threat to Canada are flagged before they arrive on Canadian soil
However, the importance security screening cannot be understated and it is vital to follow existing
security screening procedures to ensure public safety. (PA)

Prepared by: B,P. Current Intelligence Analysis

5 I jN SFRVIQJ. NI r

canad
This doeunsen is th property 01 the Canads Border Services Agency (CBSA) sod thuid not be redassifiedor dsseniinaled without prIor consent of the
osiginator The information must b stored. ransosihed. nd ssiegusMed in smurcianco with its daselilcation kweL as outlined to the Government Securits
Pobcy and the CrfSA Secunty &ses [1 anes u requested undcr the Acnss III JIIjlirnslwS 4 1 or the P01 are Act no decision should be taken wtlhcnst prior
consultation with the originator, es the information may be subject to esenlpttOtIs. Requeurs for additional use shouki be forwarded to the Intelligence
Operations sod Anah.eia Dfviaionsiltioa.