New visa rules for Mexican nationals turn families, tourists into collateral damage, loved ones say

Having just tucked his oldest son into bed on Wednesday evening, Sebastian Ibarra walked into his living room at home in British Columbia's North Okanagan district and saw a text from his spouse asking if he'd seen the news.

He did a quick online search and learned that the federal government was reimposing some visa requirements on visiting Mexican nationals to curb the number of asylum claims in Canada and stem the flow of people crossing into the United States.

Taken aback, Ibarra said he thought of his parents and brother — who are supposed to visit him from Mexico this summer.

«I was disappointed,» he said. «The system [is trying] to find a scapegoat rather than actually finding a permanent, long-term solution to this issue.»

Ibarra is among those whose loved ones are affected by Ottawa's new rules, which take effect at 11:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Several people who spoke with CBC News said they can understand the need to improve the country's immigration system, but they believe the changes introduced this week could turn visitors, tourists and separated families into collateral damage.

Ibarra, then 19, arrived in Winnipeg from Mexico City in 2006. He finished his undergraduate degree at the University of Manitoba and completed his master's degree in B.C. before taking a job in Prince Edward Island. In 2021, he and his spouse moved back west so their sons — Xavi, 5, and Niko, 2 — could be closer to their maternal grandparents.

Now in his 30s, Ibarra said he is acutely familiar with the country's immigration system. He went through multiple visa renewals, work permits and permanent resident applications before becoming a Canadian citizen 2½ years ago.

His parents are in their 70s, and his brother is a graduate student with a