Canada’s federal NDP leader Avi Lewis calls on the federal government to block a data-sharing agreement between Thomson Reuters and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The NDP argues the arrangement would allow ICE to use Thomson Reuters’ investigative database to support efforts to identify alleged “immigration fraud.” According to reporting cited by The Guardian and others, ICE would pay Thomson Reuters US$125 million for access to the database under the contract.
Lewis says Ottawa should review and intervene in the deal and also impose further limits on Canadian companies’ ability to do business with ICE. The request comes after Canada’s National Observer published information about the agreement. The available reports focus on the contract’s purpose—using Reuters’ database for investigative work related to immigration enforcement—and on the opposition leader’s demand that the government restrict it. The sources provided do not include statements from the Canadian government or Thomson Reuters responding to the allegations or detailing whether any review or approval process is underway.
