Urgent Open letter for Organizations, Groups, Associations & Collectives

February 2025

Subject: Urgent – Discriminatory Barriers in Family Reunification for Sudanese War-Affected Families

Dear The Honourable Marc Miller, 

We, the undersigned, are writing to convey our profound concern regarding the delays in processing family reunification applications for Sudanese individuals affected by the ongoing war. These delays are prolonging the suffering of families caught in life-threatening circumstances in Sudan as well as catastrophic financial strains for those who were able to flee the war, and they undermine Canada’s commitment to humanitarian values. We would like to remind you that Sudanese Canadians have made a significant financial and emotional commitment to sponsor their immediate family members under the current policy to ensure their family members are not dependent on public funding.

Broken Promises and Repeated Delays in Sudanese Family Reunification

Your office has repeatedly assured the Sudanese Canadian community that applications would reopen for more Sudanese refugees, including those in Quebec, yet these commitments have gone unfulfilled. These promises were communicated directly to the Sudanese Canadian Community Association (SCCA), but no official announcements were made on the IRCC website. Initially, a reopening was scheduled for November 11, 2024, but was subsequently delayed. The commitment was then reiterated for January 7, 2025, only to be postponed once again. Most recently, on February 4, 2025, despite renewed assurances, no action was taken.

Furthermore, while the government publicly committed in May 2023 to expediting the processing of Sudanese PR applications, more than 17,000 applications remain stuck in the system with no clear timeline for resolution. Among these applicants are protected persons already in Canada—individuals who fled the war but were forced to leave their families behind in life-threatening conditions. Many of them are experiencing severe mental distress, unable to reunite with their loved ones, while struggling with the uncertainty of Canada’s broken promises. The delays in processing have prolonged suffering, leading to financial distress and, in many cases, the tragic deaths of family members still trapped in Sudan.

The lack of urgency in handling these applications raises serious concerns about Canada’s commitment to humanitarian values and equitable treatment of refugees. Sudanese applicants—especially protected persons—should not be left to suffer in limbo while watching their families endure unimaginable hardship.

Processing Delays Have Led to Deaths of Family Members

IRCC’s inaction is not just causing delays—it is costing lives.

Numerous reports have surfaced detailing the struggles of Sudanese Canadians attempting to bring their loved ones to safety:

• “Sudanese Canadians Decry Delays in Bringing Their Family” (January 19, 2025): This article discusses the ongoing crisis in Sudan and the Canadian government’s family-based pathway launched in February 2024. Many Sudanese Canadians are struggling with delays in bringing their loved ones to safety.
• “As Canada Brings in People Fleeing War in Sudan, Families Struggle” (February 27, 2024): Sudanese Canadians highlight the complex bureaucratic challenges involved in sponsoring family members. Many feel they are “fighting for scraps” in an already overwhelmed system.
• “Sudanese Montrealers Grow Anxious as Quebec Offers No Support” (October 17, 2024): This article reports that while IRCC introduced a humanitarian pathway to reunite families, many in Quebec feel left out due to a lack of provincial support.
• “London, Ont., Residents Applied Months Ago to Bring Family from Sudan, Still Waiting” (October 24, 2024): Between May 2023 and October 2024, more than 6,500 people affected by Sudan’s conflict were approved to come to Canada. However, many families remain in limbo, waiting for final approvals.

Sudanese families have lost loved ones while trapped in war zones, unable to escape because IRCC failed to act with urgency. Each day of inaction deepens the psychological toll on families, leaving vulnerable individuals, including women, children, the elderly, and those with medical conditions, exposed to further violence.

The Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan

Verified reports from reputable organizations underscore the worsening crisis in Sudan. Recent developments have intensified the conflict, endangering civilians and exacerbating the humanitarian emergency:

• Reuters reported on January 17, 2025, that drone attacks by the RSF militias disrupted power across army-controlled areas, compounding the humanitarian crisis.
• Reuters also highlighted a surge in ethnically motivated violence, with riots and killings across the region.
• On January 7, 2025, Reuters reported that the United States determined the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed genocide, leading to sanctions against their leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
• The United Nations Office for Children and Armed Conflict condemned the escalating violence in Sudan, particularly its devastating impact on children.
• Human Rights Watch documented mass atrocities, the displacement of over 12 million people, and the obstruction of vital humanitarian aid in their January 16, 2025 report.
• Amnesty International documented that Egyptian authorities have been arbitrarily arresting and unlawfully deporting Sudanese refugees back to Sudan, violating international law and endangering lives. This is an ongoing issue.
• On January 17, 2025, Reuters reported on the attacks on Sudanese nationals in South Sudan, leading to fatalities and prompting authorities to impose curfews to curb the violence.

Discriminatory Treatment of African Sudanese Applicants Compared to Other Groups:

• Ukrainians faced no cap on permanent residency applications and were eligible for a one-time payment of $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child under CUAET (Government of Canada, 2024a).
• Afghan applicants were granted 40,000 spaces along with financial assistance for housing, food, and essential needs (Government of Canada, 2024b).
• Colombian, Haitian, and Venezuelan applicants received three months of financial support upon arrival and had their biometrics AND permanent residency fees waived (Government of Canada, 2024c).
• Palestinian applicants from Gaza have been provided financial assistance to support their relocation and settlement (Government of Canada, 2025).

In stark contrast, Sudanese applicants:

• Were subjected to a restrictive cap of just 3,250 applications—a fraction of what was offered to other groups.
• Receive no financial aid despite fleeing one of the world’s most pressing humanitarian crises. This is in stark contrast to other humanitarian programs, where refugees have been provided with support to help them settle and rebuild their lives in Canada. Without financial assistance, these families face overwhelming challenges as they try to navigate a new life after fleeing war and devastation. This lack of financial support is not only unfair; it is discriminatory. It creates a stark disparity in how Sudanese refugees are treated. Canada’s commitment to humanitarian values must apply equitably to all refugees. This inconsistent treatment not only adds undue hardship to vulnerable families but also damages Canada’s reputation as a compassionate and fair nation.
• Were left with no functional biometrics centre, creating additional barriers to their applications. The absence of a functioning biometrics centre in Sudan as mentioned above has left many applicants stuck in the initial stages of the process. While many promises have been made to expedite the establishment of this centre, no clear timelines have been provided as to when it will be operational. This prolonged uncertainty is forcing applicants to endure horrendous, life-threatening conditions with no end in sight. Establishing this centre for those applying from within Sudan is an urgent need. Without immediate action, families are left without hope of escaping the escalating violence and deteriorating living conditions. Not to mention that many have sadly perished while waiting for a way out.

Despite these dire circumstances, more than half of the family reunification applications still remain stuck in the eligibility phase for months; the same applies for those who have completed all required steps and are still waiting for their visa issuance. This delay, in the context of an escalating humanitarian crisis, is unjustifiable.

While it is understood that December and January typically experience slower processing due to holiday staffing, other applications progressed during this period. The lack of prioritization for urgent humanitarian cases raises serious concerns about how resources are being allocated. This selective approach not only undermines the principles of fairness and equality but also leaves thousands of vulnerable individuals without the support they desperately need.

Urgent Actions Required

This systemic discrimination cannot continue. As Canadian citizens and permanent residents and organizations serving the community, we demand that IRCC take the following actions:

1. Reopen and Expand the Sudanese Canadian Family Reunification Program – Remove the arbitrary cap of 3,250 applications and process the remaining backlog without delay.
2. Establish a Biometrics Centre in Sudan or Provide Alternatives – Implement online verification or waive biometrics for Sudanese applicants.
3. Provide Financial Assistance for Sudanese Applicants – Offer financial support on par with Ukrainian, Afghan, Colombian, Haitian, Venezuelan, and Gazan programs.
4. Increase Transparency in Processing Sudanese Applications – Set clear timelines and assign dedicated officers to Sudanese reunification cases.

Canada has built a reputation as a global leader in responding to humanitarian crises with urgency and compassion. Yet, the handling of these cases undermines that legacy. It is imperative to allocate immediate resources to expedite these applications and fulfill Canada’s commitment to protecting lives and reuniting Sudanese families with their loved ones in Canada. This is not just a question of policy; it is a matter of life and death.

We expect a formal response from your office detailing the concrete actions that IRCC will take to rectify these injustices immediately, as Sudanese families cannot afford to wait any longer. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We trust that your office will act swiftly and decisively to address this humanitarian emergency without further delay.

Sincerely,

Signatories: 

References

• Reuters. (2025a). Drone attacks by RSF militias disrupt power in Sudan’s army-controlled areas. Retrieved from www.reuters.com
• Reuters. (2025b). Surge in ethnically motivated violence across Sudan. Retrieved from www.reuters.com
• Reuters. (2025c). United States determines RSF committed genocide. Retrieved from www.reuters.com
• United Nations Office for Children and Armed Conflict. (2025). Report on the impact of the Sudan conflict on children. Retrieved from www.un.org
• Human Rights Watch. (2025). Mass atrocities and displacement in Sudan. Retrieved from www.hrw.org
• Amnesty International. (2025). Egypt unlawfully deporting Sudanese refugees. Retrieved from www.amnesty.org
• CBC News. (2024). Canada’s family reunification unequal for refugees, says Sudanese woman whose mother died waiting. Retrieved from www.cbc.ca
• Government of Canada. (2024a). CUAET financial support for Ukrainians. Retrieved from www.canada.ca
• Government of Canada. (2024b). Afghan refugee resettlement program. Retrieved from www.canada.ca
• Government of Canada. (2025). Financial assistance for Gazans arriving in Canada. Retrieved from www.canada.ca