When a nation’s leaders refuse to check the backgrounds of suspected terrorists before handing out citizenship, you have to wonder: what on earth were they thinking, and how many more are slipping through the cracks?
At a Glance
- Canada’s immigration system failed to properly vet an Egyptian national who appeared in an ISIS torture video before granting him citizenship.
- Both the man and his son were arrested in Ontario for allegedly plotting a major ISIS-inspired attack in Toronto.
- Security agencies and immigration officials are under fire for procedural failures and lack of accountability.
- Political fallout has been swift, with demands for sweeping reforms to prevent future security lapses.
Canadian Immigration Office Exposes Citizens to ISIS Threat
Canadians are now grappling with the fallout after immigration authorities admitted they failed to conduct a proper security check on Ahmed Eldidi, an Egyptian national who quietly slipped into the country, received a work permit, and was granted citizenship despite appearing in a 2015 ISIS torture video. This catastrophic lapse allowed both Eldidi and his son Mostafa—who was himself denied a student permit before crossing the border from New York and claiming refugee status—to live freely in Canada for years. In July 2024, both were arrested in Richmond Hill, Ontario, after authorities uncovered a plot to carry out a “serious, violent attack” in Toronto, inspired by ISIS. The case has exposed the glaring holes in Canada’s immigration system and ignited a political firestorm over the government’s failure to put the safety of its own citizens first.
After years of Liberal-led increases in intake from Muslim-majority countries, this latest incident is yet another example of the dangers of prioritizing virtue-signaling and open-border policies over basic national security. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) described the suspects as being in the “advanced stages” of planning a massacre. Yet, the agencies tasked with keeping Canada safe—the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)—have all pointed fingers at each other while dodging real accountability. It’s a masterclass in government incompetence: Ahmed Eldidi’s ties to ISIS only came to light after he had already become a Canadian citizen in May 2024, years after he’d been allowed to settle and work in the country.
Security Screening Failures Put Canadians at Risk
The failures didn’t occur in a vacuum. Ahmed Eldidi’s immigration process was riddled with lapses from the start. He arrived at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport in 2018, breezed through security checks, and received a work permit within seven months. His son Mostafa, after being denied a student visa, simply crossed the land border, claimed refugee status, and was granted full asylum by 2022. At no point did anyone bother to check their backgrounds against international terror watch lists or review open-source intelligence—like the infamous ISIS video featuring Ahmed. Only after a tip-off and subsequent RCMP investigation did authorities act, arresting the duo before their alleged attack could be carried out. Meanwhile, Canadians are left wondering: how many others have slipped through the net?
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently took over from the outgoing Liberal government, has faced a barrage of criticism for his administration’s handling of the affair. His predecessor’s former Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, was ousted in May 2025 after defending the department’s performance and refusing to admit any wrongdoing. Conservatives in Parliament, led by MPs like Raquel Dancho and Larry Brock, have been relentless in demanding answers. Their question is simple: how can the government justify granting citizenship to suspected terrorists while Canadian families live with the consequences?
Political Fallout and Calls for Reform
Public trust in Canada’s immigration and security screening process has been shaken to its core. While the RCMP and CSIS have promised internal reviews, and the IRCC claims it followed procedures, none of these agencies seem willing to take real responsibility for the mess. Parliamentary hearings are ongoing, with the Conservative Party seizing on the issue as proof that the current system is broken and must be overhauled. The political stakes are high, and calls for stricter border controls, more robust vetting, and a return to common sense are getting louder by the day.
The broader consequences are already being felt. Muslim and immigrant communities across Canada now face increased scrutiny, as politicians and ordinary citizens alike question how easily extremists can exploit the system. At the same time, legal and migration experts warn that Canada’s first-ever war crimes trial in a national security case—set for November 2026—could open the door to new, more aggressive prosecutions of foreign fighters. The economic and social costs are mounting: longer wait times, higher processing expenses, and a sharp uptick in political polarization as the public demands action. Canada’s reputation as a safe, well-governed country has taken a brutal hit, all because the government failed to do its most basic job—protecting its own citizens.
