Public-safety officials in Calgary issued an alert late on November 20 after Jagdeep Singh, an Indian national under investigation for organized-crime involvement, escaped CBSA custody at Rockyview Hospital during a medical assessment. Singh faces removal from Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act on security grounds.
The escape underscores the complexities of immigration enforcement in a healthcare setting, where detainees temporarily leave secure facilities. CBSA officers normally supervise such outings, but the agency has not disclosed how Singh fled. Local police forces have been mobilized, and the public is urged to call 911 with sightings but not to intervene—a reminder of liability considerations for employers and landlords who may unknowingly encounter inadmissible persons.
![CBSA and Calgary Police Hunt Escaped Immigration Detainee Linked to Organized Crime]()
From a mobility perspective, the incident highlights Ottawa’s increased enforcement posture as it moves to reduce the temporary-resident population. CBSA has stepped up field operations, including workplace inspections and joint task forces with municipal police. Companies employing foreign nationals should review their document-verification procedures to ensure all staff possess valid status; penalties for knowingly employing an inadmissible foreigner can include administrative monetary penalties and a ban on accessing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Legal experts predict that high-profile escapes will accelerate the government’s plan—outlined in Bill C-12—to give CBSA broader powers to track non-citizens subject to removal orders, including electronic monitoring in certain cases. Employers sponsoring workers with criminal-inadmissibility risk factors should monitor the bill’s progress and prepare contingency plans.
Anyone with information on Singh’s whereabouts is asked to contact law enforcement immediately. CBSA has provided a dedicated tip line and is coordinating with federal and provincial agencies to locate the fugitive.
The escape underscores the complexities of immigration enforcement in a healthcare setting, where detainees temporarily leave secure facilities. CBSA officers normally supervise such outings, but the agency has not disclosed how Singh fled. Local police forces have been mobilized, and the public is urged to call 911 with sightings but not to intervene—a reminder of liability considerations for employers and landlords who may unknowingly encounter inadmissible persons.
From a mobility perspective, the incident highlights Ottawa’s increased enforcement posture as it moves to reduce the temporary-resident population. CBSA has stepped up field operations, including workplace inspections and joint task forces with municipal police. Companies employing foreign nationals should review their document-verification procedures to ensure all staff possess valid status; penalties for knowingly employing an inadmissible foreigner can include administrative monetary penalties and a ban on accessing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Legal experts predict that high-profile escapes will accelerate the government’s plan—outlined in Bill C-12—to give CBSA broader powers to track non-citizens subject to removal orders, including electronic monitoring in certain cases. Employers sponsoring workers with criminal-inadmissibility risk factors should monitor the bill’s progress and prepare contingency plans.
Anyone with information on Singh’s whereabouts is asked to contact law enforcement immediately. CBSA has provided a dedicated tip line and is coordinating with federal and provincial agencies to locate the fugitive.
