A Colombian family in Canada for more than six years will not be deported on Christmas Eve after Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen intervened in their case.

A family of seven who have lived in Canada for more than six years are set to be deported to Colombia on Christmas Eve by the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA).

Ottawa has spent over $5.7 million to ensure that asylum seekers have adequate food, shelter and medical care.

More than 7,600 people crossed the Canada-U.S. border irregularly between Jan. 1 and April 30.

The federal government says Canadians will need to wait for at least a few days — and possibly longer — for a fully updated plan. Many of the newest arrivals are from Nigeria.

The number of people crossing the Canada-U.S. border between legal checkpoints saw a slight increase in February, new numbers show, and Ottawa is still bracing for a possible spike as the weather warms this spring.

Refugee advocates say the Immigration and Refugee Board has done as much as it can to manage a historic surge in asylum claims, and the time has come for the Liberal government to act.

The food provided to asylum seekers will include juice, milk, egg and chicken sandwiches, plus granola bars as snack items.

Quebec bore the brunt of a major upswing in irregular border crossings during the month of August, new numbers have confirmed.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says Canadians have every right to be concerned that immediately extending health and other social benefits to newly arrived asylum seekers will strain the system.