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GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO'S POSITION ON CANADIAN AUTHORITIES' DECISION TO IMPOSE VISAS ON MEXICAN NATIONALS
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Mexico City. Press Release, July 13, 2009.- The Government of Mexico regrets the decision by the Government of Canada, announced today, to impose visas on Mexican nationals travelling to Canada as tourists, a measure the Canadian authorities reported was due to the substantial increase in fraudulent refugee claims filed by Mexican nationals.

During the past few months Mexico has held consultations with Canadian authorities to assess other measures to deal with the problem of fraudulent claims.

Furthermore, Mexico will continue to promote actions toward modifying the Canadian measure as soon as possible.

Mexico will closely monitor implementation of the measure announced by Canada, in the interest of seeing that it be done efficiently and with respect for the rights of Mexicans, and in the aim of reducing any effects on Mexicans' travel plans to Canada.

Channels of collaboration remain open with Canada to ensure that the laws are obeyed and that Canada's refugee system be utilized in accordance with the commendable spirit that serves as its foundation.

Mexico expresses its full respect for the right to asylum established by the national and multilateral instruments of each country.

In regard to refugee claims from Mexican nationals in Canada, the Government of Mexico deems it necessary to present the following considerations:

Mexican authorities have detected that refugee claims lacking legitimate bases arise largely in response to the unrestricted operation of intermediary groups and organizations.

These organizations have encouraged this practice among Mexicans acting in good faith, charging fees for advisory, logistical and training services to then present fraudulent cases.

Organizations have taken advantage of Canadian response times to assess refugee claims, where excessive delays have become appealing in the filing of illegitimate cases.

This has resulted in a drop in the overall acceptance rate for refugee claims from Mexican citizens to below 10%, which has even affected Mexicans who could legitimately avail themselves of this benefit.

Mexico will continue to take firm action to mitigate the operation of the organizations involved when they break the law.

July 14, 2009 | 11:14 AM Comments  0 comments

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To understand about challenges: Refugee
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Canadin Council for Refugees.

To understand more about the current challenges to the refugee claim process please check:

http://www.ccrweb.ca/documents/refugeeclaimsFAQ.pdf

July 14, 2009 | 11:11 AM Comments  0 comments



Canada to require visas from Mexico, Czech Republic
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By Peter O'Neil
Canwest News Europe Correspondent

Canada has announced it will impose visa requirements effective a minute after midnight Monday on the top two sources of refugee claimants - Mexico and the Czech Republic.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said many of the asylum requests are either rejected or abandoned, raising questions about the legitimacy of the claimants' allegations that they face persecution in their home countries.

The vast majority of the Czechs seeking asylum are from that country's Roma minority, which has faced a long history of racism and persecution according to various international rights organizations.

Kenney defended the decision that is expected to prompt criticism from human rights workers and the Mexican and Czech governments.

"In addition to creating significant delays and spiraling new costs in our refugee program, the sheer volume of these claims is undermining our ability to help people fleeing real persecution," Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said in a statement.

"All too often, people who really need Canada's protection
findthemselves in a long line, waiting for months and ometimes years to have their claims heard. This is unacceptable."

Kenney said he will permit a 48-hour grace period, ending at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, for travelers already in transit.
"The visa requirement I am announcing will give us a greater ability to manage the flow of people into Canada and verify bona fides," said Kenney, who is attempting to reform Canada's backlogged efugee determination system.
"By taking this important step towards reducing the burden on our refugee system, we will be better equipped to process genuine refugee claims faster."

The number of Mexican refugee claimants has almost tripled since 2005, rising from 3,400 to 9,400 in 2008, when Mexicans made up one-quarter of all asylum requests, the government said in a news release. In the first half of 2009 there were more than 5,500 Mexican claims,compared with roughly 3,700 over the first six months of 2008.

The Immigration and Refugee Board reviewed 5,654 Mexican claims last year and accepted 606. "In 2009, the number of claims has increased, while the acceptance rate has decreased further still."

The Conservative government lifted the visa requirement on Czech citizens in late 2007 despite warnings of a repeat of a similar decision in the mid-1990s, when there was a flood of Roma claimants before the visa rule was re-imposed.
Roma began arriving at the Toronto International Airport almost immediately, with 840 claims filed in 2008 compared to five in 2006.

Almost 3,000 claims were filed since the decision, more than half in the first four months of this year.

July 14, 2009 | 11:04 AM Comments  0 comments

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News Release:
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Canada imposes a visa on Mexico
Ottawa, July 13, 2009 — Beginning 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 14, 2009, Mexican nationals will require a visa to travel to Canada, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. For the first 48 hours, Mexican citizens may apply for entry on arrival in Canada. After 11:59 p.m. EDT July 15, 2009, a visa will be required.

Refugee claims from Mexico have almost tripled since 2005, making it the number one source country for claims. In 2008, more than 9,400 claims filed in Canada came from Mexican nationals, representing 25 per cent of all claims received. Of the Mexican claims reviewed and finalized in 2008 by the Immigration and Refugee Board, an independent administrative tribunal, only 11 per cent were accepted.

“In addition to creating significant delays and spiraling new costs in our refugee program, the sheer volume of these claims is undermining our ability to help people fleeing real persecution,” said Minister Kenney. “All too often, people who really need Canada’s protection find themselves in a long line, waiting for months and sometimes years to have their claims heard. This is unacceptable.

“The visa requirement I am announcing will give us a greater ability to manage the flow of people into Canada and verify bona fides. By taking this important step towards reducing the burden on our refugee system, we will be better equipped to process genuine refugee claims faster.”

“The visa process will allow us to assess who is coming to Canada as a legitimate visitor and who might be trying to use the refugee system to jump the immigration queue,” Minister Kenney said. “It is not fair for those who have been waiting patiently to come to Canada, sometimes for years, when others succeed in bypassing our immigration system.”

Canada regularly reviews its visa policies toward other countries. Countries are aware that if they do not satisfy the conditions of a visa-exemption, a visa may be imposed.

This change means that nationals from Mexico who want to travel to Canada will first need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa and meet the requirements to receive one. It is up to the applicant to satisfy the visa officer their visit to Canada is temporary, they will not overstay their approved time in Canada, they have enough money to cover their stay in Canada, they are in good health, they do not have a criminal record, and are not a security risk to Canadians. These requirements are the same for anyone who wants to visit Canada.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has been working to increase processing capacity in Mexico City. Nevertheless, the imposition of the visa will mean short-term delays in travel as CIC puts resources in place. Applicants are encouraged to send their applications by courier or registered mail and to avoid visiting the Embassy unless specifically invited for an interview.

“Canada has strong ties with Mexico,” said Minister Kenney. “We continue to welcome all genuine travellers to Canada from this country.”

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2009/2009-07-13.asp

July 14, 2009 | 11:02 AM Comments  0 comments

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Globe and Mail: CSIS beefs up screening for Tamil Tigers
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Globe and Mail

CSIS beefs up screening for Tamil Tigers

Extra agents added in Sri Lanka as backlog grows for Canadian visa requests

Bill Curry

Ottawa

Wednesday, Jun. 10, 2009

Canada is boosting its immigration screening in Sri Lanka – shifting overseas CSIS agents from New Delhi to Colombo in a bid to keep defeated Tamil Tiger terrorists from landing here.

In addition to moving agents from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Canada Border Services Agency from their posts in India, the federal immigration department is adding staff to manage the growing backlog of Sri Lankan visa requests.

Richard Fadden, the deputy minister of Citizenship and Immigration who takes over as head of CSIS on June 27, told MPs Tuesday that any hint of association to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam now triggers in-depth screening.

“We are insisting that all applications that have any possibility of involvement with the LTTE be referred to secondary review either by CBSA or by CSIS,” Mr. Fadden said during an appearance before the House of Commons immigration committee.

Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis, whose Scarborough-Agincourt riding is home to many Tamil-Canadians, accused the government of unnecessary delays at a time when families are desperate to be united in Canada.

“Is it because your department and your government has a view that if you're a Tamil, you're a Tiger, you're a terrorist?” he asked.

“Of course it's not,” replied Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, who appeared with Mr. Fadden.

Mr. Kenney has vowed to speed up family-reunification applications coming from Sri Lanka. But his deputy, Mr. Fadden, said security concerns can lead to a second, and even a third round of interviews as part of the application process.

“While we do want to do everything we can to expedite the handling of files, one aspect that can slow down these files are security concerns,” said Mr. Fadden.

June 10, 2009 | 2:41 PM Comments  0 comments

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