MILLHAVEN – In many ways, Hassan Almrei will just be trading one prison for another.

The 35-year-old Syrian refugee will soon leave this immigration holding centre that critics have dubbed "Guantanamo North" and move into a home near Toronto.

The conditions of his release amount to a form of house arrest and include surveillance cameras, a GPS monitoring bracelet and monitoring of phone conversations.

Almrei has been detained since 2001 and is one of five Arab men the Canadian government has accused of terrorism connections.

It alleges he was part of a terrorist forgery ring and supports Al Qaeda's ideology. He denies both claims.

"It's quite a journey, seven years of my life," Almrei said during an interview last week. Wearing jeans and a fleece jacket with a maple leaf pattern, Almrei recalled how difficult his incarceration was in the first years at Toronto's West Detention Centre. "Everybody (would) come to my window and give me a piece of his or her mind," he said.

But having only been in Canada a few years, he spoke little English.

"All I used to do was smile and say, 'Thank you.' I didn't know how to reply and I didn't know what they meant by the insults."

Over the years, Almrei befriended many of the guards – some of whom later testified on his behalf. In 2006, he was moved to this Kingston-area facility where he has access to a living area, gym and television. He spends most days watching Canada's Parliamentary Channel and reading newspapers. At night, it's Jon Stewart's The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

The government is trying to deport Almrei to Syria on a national security certificate – a provision of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that allows non-citizens to be removed if they're considered a danger. But the law has been mired in controversy and critics say the use of private hearings makes the process unfair.

Deporting Almrei is also problematic because of fears of torture. Canada is a signatory of international treaties that prohibit the removal of someone who will likely face torture or be killed – a reality in Almrei's case since Canada once accepted him as a refugee.

So what now? Almrei's case will drag on for months, if not years, as will the hearings for the four other men who live with their families under similar strict restrictions. How long can their freedom be curbed? Can Canada afford surveillance of them 24 hours a day?

University of Toronto law professor Kent Roach doesn't think so.

"The conditions imposed on the detainees are not likely to be sustainable," says Roach. "Either you have grounds to charge and prosecute, or you allow these people to go free. The latter option does not stop the state, either the police or CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from continuing to investigate including through lawful wiretaps and the like."

But the government contends that if someone can't be removed from Canada, without detention or court-ordered sanctions, suspects can easily go underground. Federal security officials often privately complain that they get blamed for intrusive surveillance techniques, but also if someone dangerous falls between the cracks.

"What does the world do with somebody who is truly dangerous wherever they go? Is freedom really an option?" Beverly McLachlin, Canada's Supreme Court Chief Justice asked during a 2007 hearing. "Are not the only options permanent detention in a country like Canada or sending them back to a country that may be worse?"

Canada is not alone in dealing with these questions.

Incoming U.S. President Barack Obama must decide whether his administration supports detaining "enemy combatants" – one of the Bush administration's most criticized policies.

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering the case of Ali al-Marri, a Qatari student who was detained in Illinois in December 2001 and U.S. authorities say is too dangerous to release.

Al-Marri is the only enemy combatant held in the U.S. and, while he isn't an American citizen, he was living legally in the U.S.

The United Kingdom has also introduced measures since 9/11 including "control orders," which impose restrictions on suspects who haven't been convicted.

"I think most people would accept the idea that there may be circumstances in which a person who isn't charged can be subjected to restrictions, if there's strong evidence they posed a risk," says Almrei's lawyer, Lorne Waldman, who researched control orders for a report to Ottawa. "But that has to be fairly and rigorously tested."

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One possibility – perhaps a compromise between opposing critics – is the use of peace bonds. The government has already employed these in the case of young suspects charged in 2006 with an alleged Toronto bomb plot.

As the government and courts continue to grapple with these complex legal questions, Almrei will prepare for his release. It's uncertain when he'll walk out of here but he hopes everything will be in place in a few weeks.

This spring, he'll be in a federal court again as the case continues.