Detention in Canada & USA
We're used to thinking of Canada as a safe haven. "Safe, peaceful, lower crime rate than the US". It sounds like a mantra we repeat to ourselves and each other. Almost like a mantra: maple leaves, syrup, good neighbors. But the last quarters of 2025 forced us to stop nodding our heads for a second and look at the numbers.
I studied the reports on foreign residents—those without permanent residency or citizenship: students, temporary workers, visitors. The question is, if one of them breaks the law, what happens next?
There are currently about 53 million foreign residents in the US. There are 46,000 slots in detention centers for those who break the law. That's 900 slots for every million foreign residents.
But in Canada: 3 million foreign residents and only 330 places in detention. That's about 100 places per million. The difference is almost ninefold.
Logic dictates: if Canada has nine times fewer jobs, then there should be nine times less crime? That would be nice. And very Canadian – "everything is orderly and respectable here, even the criminals are polite." But sadly no. Crime statistics are growing, and not nearly as slowly as we'd like to believe. Moreover, the trend is global: almost all developed countries have recorded increases in crime.
So maybe instead of the usual "everything is quiet here," it's time to start an honest conversation?
- Is Canada prepared enough for the increase in crime?
- Is there the infrastructure for control and security?
- Why do the numbers say one thing, while the public narrative says something completely different?
I'm all for facing the truth, not living in the myth of "eternally peaceful Canada."
What the crime is and what numbers are alarming?
To be serious, it's important to understand what exactly is behind the word "crime." Canadian and US statistics divide it into three key categories:
- Violent Crime – violent crimes: assaults, robberies, rapes.
- Property Crime – crimes against property: thefts, carjackings, break-ins.
- Homicide – murders.
Let's take the latest data for 2024–2025 and face the reality.
General Trends
After decades of declining crime, both countries are once again recording an increase. It's not the 1990s yet, but the curve is steadily rising. The trend is global and not limited to the US.
Violent Crime
- US – Memphis, Tennessee: ≈1,300 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
- Canada — Winnipeg, Manitoba: ~675 per 100,000.
Yes, Memphis is more than twice as "tough," but the gap between the two countries isn't exactly sky-high—it's 2–2.5 times, not 10 times, as we like to tell ourselves over a cup of Tim Hortons.
Property Crime
Here, Canada has unpleasantly "caught up" to the American figures:
- Canada — Lethbridge, Alberta: ~5,500 property crimes per 100,000 population.
- Canada — Kelowna, British Columbia: ~4,932 per 100,000.
- USA — Poeblo, Connecticut: ~4,900 per 100,000.
That is, the worst Canadian cities for theft and carjacking are already surpassing the American "record" rates. So, if anyone continues to console themselves with the thought, "Well, it's the US, they have their own crime drama"...oh surprise: we have our own being filmed right now.
An interesting detail:
Even if you remove the extremes and compare megacities, the picture is unexpected:
- Toronto currently has a higher property crime rate than New York.
- Vancouver has a higher rate than Los Angeles.
Yes, we've officially surpassed them in thefts. But for some reason, this fact hasn't made it into the brochures promoting "the most comfortable life."
Homicide
Historically, the US has always had significantly higher murder rates than Canada, but the gap is rapidly narrowing. Currently, the difference is only about 10%. This is despite the fact that Canada has far fewer prisons and correctional facilities per capita than the US. Politeness in everyday life is good, but for some reason, we haven't provided a penitentiary system just in case.
Numbers are stubborn. The myth of a "quiet, safe Canada" is crumbling, and we continue to whisper it in our ears while the statistics confidently paint a different future.
So, should we talk about it? I always prefer the truth, even if it’s the harsh one...
Oleksandra Melnykova, Canadian Immigration and Refugee Consultant.
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