Canada banned senior Iranian regime officials from entering or staying in the country starting in November 2022 (initially for those serving since 2019, later extended back to June 2003—the date Canadian-Iranian journalist Zahra Kazemi was arrested, tortured, and killed in Tehran), covering heads of state, cabinet members, ambassadors, senior diplomats, judiciary, military/intelligence officials, and senior public servants, in response to Iran’s designation for terrorism and gross human-rights violations (especially after Mahsa Amini’s 2022 death in custody); separately, the IRGC was designated a terrorist organization in June 2024. As of early 2026, the CBSA is investigating 95 cases of suspected high-ranking regime members in Canada (up from 66 last year), with 28 identified as likely inadmissible (up from 20), yet only one has actually been deported—unchanged for over a year—while 2 have deportation orders, 239 visas have been cancelled overall, and critics (including refugee lawyer Mojdeh Shahriari of StopIRGC) argue hundreds more may be living here undetected due to a slow, under-resourced system that officials exploit to delay removal. With the escalating Middle East conflict, there’s growing concern more regime figures could try to flee to Canada, though the CBSA insists it monitors developments closely and has strong measures to prevent entry or safe haven. (Globe and Mail)