EDITORIAL: Arrests point to problems with courts, immigration

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Toronto Police Association raised some awkward questions for our courts and our immigration officials after a violent incident in which three police officers were injured.

According to a social media post, on August 16 Toronto police were called to aid the Sheriff’s office with an eviction.

“During this process, police learned the man was wanted for not attending court in relation to multiple charges including theft, assault peace officer, and assault with a weapon,” the TPA said in a post.

“A struggle took place during the arrest as the man violently resisted the police officers.” Three officers were hurt, although they’ll all be OK.

The TPA reports that man now faces, in total, at least 17 charges involving two jurisdictions.

“These charges include multiple counts of assault peace officer, assault with a weapon, theft, mischief, utter threats, and fail to comply with a release order and fail to comply with an undertaking.” The man is also a CBSA “overstay” and is currently in the “Open Removal” process, according to the TPA.

A removal order is a legal directive issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or the CBSA in Canada, instructing an individual to leave the country.

The TPA asks why the man is still in Canada and why he isn’t in custody. The arrests point to failures in the very systems we rely on to keep us safe – our courts and our border security forces.

Just recently, RCMP made two arrests in respect to an ISIS-inspired terror plot. They allege two men where in the late stages of plotting an attack on a Toronto area target.

Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi and his son, Mostafa Eldidi, are charged with 17 terror-related charges. In Ahmed Eldidi’s case, one of the charges relates to a horrific act caught on video, allegedly showing him dismembering someone with a sword before he came to this country. He also has Canadian citizenship.

While Toronto cops have their questions, we have some of our own: How did Ahmed Eldidi get Canadian citizenship? How many more cases like this are out there? Why are “overstays” not tracked more vigourously? Were these mistakes made because Immigration can’t keep track of the sharp increase in newcomers who’ve arrived here recently? If not, who’s asleep at the wheel?