Thread: Mexico now Canada's largest source of refugee claimants

http://www.canada.com

Mexico now Canada's largest source of refugee claimants

Celeste Mackenzie
Canadian Press


Monday, July 10, 2006

OTTAWA -- Over 3,500 Mexicans asked Canada for political asylum last year, for the first time making the NAFTA partner the largest source for refugee claimants.

But Canadian officials didn't buy the claims of persecution and harrassment of 81 per cent of the applicants. There were more approvals for refugees from Colombia and China.

A sample of Immigration and Refugee Board decisions on Mexicans describes claims of domestic abuse, state failure to ensure protection, persecution due to sexual preference, and threats from security forces and organized crime.

No statistics are kept on why claims are accepted or rejected, but many are believed to be simply seeking better working and living conditions.

"Many do apply, often at the suggestion of unscrupulous immigration consultants who, depending on the price, will concoct a whole story and documentation for them,'' said refugee advocate Francisco Rico, co-director of the FCJ Refugee Centre in Toronto.

Rico says that because these sorts of cases largely fail, they bring suspicion on Mexicans who really need asylum.

"Canadian authorities judge Mexicans much harsher than claimants from other countries and put a greater onus on them to produce more thorough documentation,'' he said.

Both Amnesty International and the U.S. State department noted no overall improvement in human rights protection during Vicente Fox's presidency that began in 2000.

The U.S. report noted a marked increase in violence related to narcotics trafficking and said violence against women is a nationwide problem. Police torture was noted in both reports, and Amnesty said the judicial system failed to protect the rights of victims of crime and suspects. Attacks and harassment of homosexuals were also reported.

The cases are notably different from what was going on pre-2000, says Peter Showler of the University of Ottawa's Human Rights Research and Education Centre.

Showler said there were a lot more claims of political persecution when the PRI party held an iron grip on power for more than 70 years.

"Now the claims tend to refer to the state's failure to protect--often in cases of criminality and organized crime, when someone for example, has somehow come into disfavour with authorities and criminals," Showler said.

Benjamin Santamaria is familiar with that scenario.

The Toronto author and former Mexican human-rights ombudsman was granted refugee status after receiving death threats related to a case he was investigating. The accused were friends of state officials, and involved in drug trafficking.

He bemoans the "false refugees'' who make up stories, such as being gay and under threat, simply to gain entry for economic reasons.

"This is a pure lie. Homosexuals are discriminated against, harassed and even robbed, but that their lives are in danger and the only solution to leave the country is a farce,'' Santamaria said.

"Those who really need protection in Mexico and Latin America in general, often have no idea about asylum, and how to request it, much less the money needed to buy a plane ticket to Canada.''

Implementation of the U.S.-Canada Safe Third Country Agreement last year meant 42-per-cent fewer Colombians were eligible to claim asylum. The agreement makes it difficult for people who have already been in the U.S. to seek refugee status across the border in Canada.

Mexicans, meanwhile, can fly directly to Canada without a visa.

Rico of the refugee centre says about 30 newly arrived Mexicans come to his centre a month.

"About five years ago, it started becoming known in Mexico that no visa was needed.''

"About five years ago, it started becoming known in Mexico that no visa was needed.''

Hold on Canada!
Now that word is out, your country will soon be facing the same issues as the US.

Don't give up eh!

I wonder if any have applied as political refugees to the U.S.? Probably some have.

Mexicans, meanwhile, can fly directly to Canada without a visa.

Rico of the refugee centre says about 30 newly arrived Mexicans come to his centre a month.

"About five years ago, it started becoming known in Mexico that no visa was needed.''

Maybe we should raise money and put up billboards in Mexico with this information.

Hold on Canada!
Now that word is out, your country will soon be facing the same issues as the US.

That won't happen until illegal immigration destroys our economy! Give it about 10 years.

My own

Maybe we should raise money and put up billboards in Mexico with this information

I'm just kidding. I wouldn't wish this kind of illegal invasion on any country....not even the illegal's countries.....that's just how wrong and hard on the citizens that I see it.

I have first hand experience as you can see from my state.