Thread: Canada faces prospect of illegal migrant surge: Report

A growing backlash against the millions of illegal migrants in Europe, and recession-related social tensions elsewhere in the world, could lead to a surge in undocumented migrants entering Canada to take advantage of generous social programs and a "sympathetic" refugee processing system, according to an internal Canada Border Services Agency report.

The report cites "increasing anti-immigrant sentiment" around the world and lists various "nationalist" and "protectionist" measures by countries like Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Spain and Italy to reduce immigration or drive out foreign workers competing for local jobs.

The report emphasizes Europe's struggles with illegal migrants, but was written before recent controversial actions, such as France's forced closure of a refugee camp in Calais and Switzerland's referendum vote banning new construction of minarets — towers on mosques from which Muslims are called to prayer.

"The flow of African migrants to Europe is increasingly targeted by enforcement activity, and even those that successfully arrive are now unlikely to find the unlimited employment opportunities and freedom of movement that once were available," said the intelligence report that circulated among CBSA and Citizenship and Immigration Canada officials in September.

"It is unlikely that these migrants are willing to return to their country of origin where conditions are markedly worse, recession or not. Alternative destinations, such as Canada, are likely considerations."

The report, obtained through the Access to Information Act by immigration lawyer Richard Kurland, said there was no indication of a current surge to Canada — yet.

"In light of a lengthy global recession, Canada's position in the global economy, its reputation for comprehensive social services and a sympathetic refugee claim process, will increasingly make Canada an attractive destination for displaced migrant workers and irregular migrants leaving behind social and political conflicts."

One of Europe's most prominent immigration experts said the Canadian report is somewhat "alarmist," given that the millions of migrants in Europe face powerful incentives to stay put — existing networks of family and friends — and huge barriers in trying to cross the Atlantic to get to Canada.

But Danny Sriskandarajah said Canada needs to be aware of crackdowns around the world that can influence the "unstoppable" torrent of migrants desperately trying to leave the world's poorest regions.

"I don't think Canadians should stay awake at night worrying about hordes of illegal immigrants," said Sriskandarajah, director of the Royal Commonwealth Society in London.

"But on the other hand Canada quite sensibly needs to be aware of how other countries behave, because it may add to the pressures or interest in coming to Canada."

A spokesman for Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, who has said he intends to revamp Canada's refugee determination system, said the government believes Canada's borders are vulnerable.

"We're always concerned about the problem of irregular migration, people being drawn to Canada because of our overly generous asylum system and our generous social programs," said Alykhan Velshi, Kenney's spokesman.

But he agreed with experts contacted by Canwest News Service Thursday who said a surge of African migrant workers arriving from Europe is unlikely.

The vast majority of migrants in Europe don't have European passports, making it impossible to board a flight to Canada without a tourist visa, he noted.

Another expert in Europe noted that there has been no increase in people movements to Canada from Spain, despite that country's sky-high unemployment rate and the presence of millions of workers from Africa and Latin America.

Jobless migrants, rather than attempt a costly and high-risk trip across the Atlantic to claim refugee status, will most likely stay put in a country like Spain, since they already have a network of family and community connections, said the expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The undated report was distributed internally to CBSA and Citizenship and Immigration Canada officials as an attachment to a Sept. 2, 2009 e-mail, which stressed that the information was "sensitive" and not intended for the public domain.

The report warned of potential social unrest in China and other parts of the developing world as a result of the recession and migrant crackdowns in rich countries.

"Countries such as China and Bangladesh will have masses of unemployed who, in recent years, had grown accustomed to an improved standard of living. If not managed, these situations have the potential to erupt into political and social crises.

"Labor importing countries reacting to the economic crisis by imposing new restrictions on the number of foreign workers permitted, or accelerating removal for displaced foreign workers in an effort to protect jobs for the domestic workforce, may be inadvertently aggravating fragile political environments."
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service

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you better wake up Canada before what happened to us happens to you

and damn sure don't listen to your goofy politicians

Originally Posted by AirborneSapper7

you better wake up Canada before what happened to us happens to you

and damn sure don't listen to your goofy politicians

Exactly. The Canadian border isn't exactly fortified against northbound illegals.

The report cites "increasing anti-immigrant sentiment" around the world and lists various "nationalist" and "protectionist" measures by countries like Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Spain and Italy to reduce immigration or drive out foreign workers competing for local jobs.

Again confusing "immigrant" with "illegal immigrant". People around the world are growing tired of people breaking into their countries and claiming resources that rightfully belong to citizens, all the while failing to assimilate and demanding that they be accomodated.

All you need do Canada is look next door...you will see the destruction caused by illegal immigrtion.

Why is Canada worried when their southern neighbor's President & Head of DHS has all but invited the whole world to come live in the USA ?

Originally Posted by USPatriot

Why is Canada worried when their southern neighbor's President & Head of DHS has all but invited the whole world to come live in the USA ?

If this new attempt at an amnesty passes it will be equivalent to declaring to every person on earth that if they can get to the USA they will be made American Citizens!