Research

Research

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Race and Racism in Canada’s Immigration Detention System is the first comprehensive, independent study to examine race and racism in Canada’s immigration detention system. Grounded in rigorous legal analysis and qualitative research, the study draws on interviews with 50 participants, including people with lived experience of immigration detention, as well as lawyers, paralegals, and service providers who work in immigration detention. The research was guided by an advisory board of people with lived-experience in immigration detention and co-led by a collaborative research team.

Race and Racism in Canada’s Immigration Detention System is the first comprehensive, independent study to examine race and racism in Canada’s immigration detention system. Grounded in rigorous legal analysis and qualitative research, the study draws on interviews with 50 participants, including people with lived experience of immigration detention, as well as lawyers, paralegals, and service providers who work in immigration detention. The research was guided by an advisory board of people with lived-experience in immigration detention and co-led by a collaborative research team.

Artwork by Edward Madojemu

Artwork by Edward Madojemu

Race and Racism In Canada's Immigration Detention System

Race and Racism In Canada's Immigration Detention System

HungerStrike
Guards
Foundations
Structure
Remote Hearing
Texture
Isolation
HungerStrike
Guards
Foundations
Structure
Remote Hearing
Texture
Isolation
HungerStrike
Guards
Foundations
Structure
Remote Hearing
Texture
Isolation
HungerStrike
Guards
Foundations
Structure
Remote Hearing
Texture
Isolation
HungerStrike
Guards
Foundations
Structure
Remote Hearing
Texture
Isolation
HungerStrike
Guards
Foundations
Structure
Remote Hearing
Texture
Isolation
HungerStrike
Guards
Foundations
Structure
Remote Hearing
Texture
Isolation
HungerStrike
Guards
Foundations
Structure
Remote Hearing
Texture
Isolation
HungerStrike
Guards
Foundations
Structure
Remote Hearing
Texture
Isolation
HungerStrike
Guards
Foundations
Structure
Remote Hearing
Texture
Isolation
HungerStrike
Guards
Foundations
Structure
Remote Hearing
Texture
Isolation
HungerStrike
Guards
Foundations
Structure
Remote Hearing
Texture
Isolation

This project was generously funded by:

The Killam Accelerator Research Fellowship,

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada,

The Law Foundation of British Columbia. 


“This work was carried out on the unceded territories of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit nations. In conducting this work, we acknowledge the constitutive role of settler colonialism in shaping and legitimizing Canada’s immigration detention system, as well as the global structures and systems that continue to oppress and displace people world-wide, which are deeply connected to the same colonial structures that oppress Indigenous people on Turtle Island.”

Detention Stories

© 2026 Detention Stories

This project was generously funded by:

The Killam Accelerator Research Fellowship,

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada,

The Law Foundation of British Columbia. 


“This work was carried out on the unceded territories of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit nations. In conducting this work, we acknowledge the constitutive role of settler colonialism in shaping and legitimizing Canada’s immigration detention system, as well as the global structures and systems that continue to oppress and displace people world-wide, which are deeply connected to the same colonial structures that oppress Indigenous people on Turtle Island.”

Detention Stories

© 2026 Detention Stories