This gesture does not apply to war criminals, people with a criminal record or people who pose a national security risk.
It's not known how long the moratorium will be in effect, said Claude Bourget, a Quebec regional director for the agency.
About three-quarters of the Canadian deportees are from Sri Lanka and India.
Judy Sgro
Other countries, such as Somalia may be placed on the moratorium list in future, said an agency spokesperson, if conditions in those countries change.
Canadian immigration officials said they would also fast-track as many as 1,000 applications from people trying to bring their spouses or dependent children to Canada from areas affected by the tsunami in southern Asia and Africa.
Federal officials are working with existing applications and are contacting family members, Immigration Minister Judy Sgro said Friday in Montreal.
As well, unmarried orphans under the age of 18 who have lost family in the affected countries and have immediate relatives in Canada can submit sponsorship applications, Sgro said.
But the first priority of Canadian immigration officers working in the field will remain reuniting children with living relatives in the area, she said.
Sgro said medical and security checks will not be relaxed and Canadians shouldn't worry people will take advantage of the fast-tracked system.
"This is a daily business of our people in the field," said Sgro.
- FROM DEC. 31, 2004: Ottawa opens door to tsunami immigrants
Sgro says the prime minister has asked her to travel across the country and meet with members of ethnic communities affected by the Dec. 26 tsunami.
She'll hear suggestions on how the federal government can help Canadians with relatives in the region and deliver a report to Paul Martin on Tuesday.
There have been calls for Ottawa to cut red tape for Canadians wanting to adopt children orphaned by the tsunami. These children are at risk of disease and starvation because of conditions in tsunami-ravaged countries, advocates say.
But Meg Hirst of UNICEF Canada warns that if fast action is taken to remove these orphans from their countries, they could suffer irrevocable damage.
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DISASTER IN ASIA Full coverage |
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MAP OF DAMAGE Interactive map with information, slide shows and video |
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CHART Notable earthquakes in the past century (requires Flash) |
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PHOTO GALLERY Banda Aceh rebuilds |
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HELPING TSUNAMI VICTIMS Organizations collecting money for tsunami relief effort  Consumer tips about charities |
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PHOTO GALLERY Indonesia quake 2005 |
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TSUNAMI FAQSNEWS ARCHIVE
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