Not all asylum seekers who
crosses Canada-US border illegally will get status in Canada. Just few of them
will actually will be granted refugee status.
According to Immigration and
Refugee Board (IRB) 16,522 asylum claims were received from people who have
crossed the US-Canada border illegally and 2.198 of those application have been
finalized.
IRB data demonstrate that only
a small number of border crosser claims have been finalized and acceptance
rates are down for all groups seeking refugee status. The acceptance rate for Haitians
and Nigerans are 9 and 33.5 percent respectively.
Even if Canada is an open and
welcoming country to refugees making a refugee claim is not a free ticket into
Canada.
This was also emphasized by Canada
immigration minister, Ahmed Hussen. In his social media account, he said, “Canada’s
refugee system isn’t for those seeking a better economic life; it provides
protection to refugees who have a well-founded fear of persecution.”
Government of Canada warns that
crossing the US border illegally is against the law and those who cross
illegally will be arrested. Asylum seekers will also undergo medical, security
and criminality checks.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s
government is trying to block and turn back asylum seekers who enter Canada
through US.
The agreement in force between
Canada and US prohibits anyone crossing the border at official point of entry
from claiming refugee status. This year 18,000 have been stopped entering
Canada illegaly.
The influx of border crossings
started in January last year and continues until now. Thousands of Haitian
immigrants who are at risk of losing their temporary immigration status in the
US and Nigerians added to that numbers.
Since President Donald Trump
took his office more than 27.000 refugee claimants have walked across the
Canada-US border. Some of the seekers have told some of the media outlets that
they left the US because of Trump’s policies and anti-immigrant views.
The influx has added more
burden to Canada’s already backlogged system for assisting refugee claimants,
leaving aid agencies having difficulty to meet growing demand for housing and
social services.
Trudeau government has amended
US-Canada border agreement to turn asylum seekers back to US but allows
immigrants who enter the country outside of an official border crossing to
apply for refugee status.
Canadian immigration minister
also visited Nigeria to ask the Nigerian government to help discourage its
citizens from entering into Canada.
Some critics are harshly criticizing
the government. They think that government needs to develop a long-term policy
solution that is in the best interest of people trying to claim refugee status
in Canada rather than saving the day.
As it has been before, there will
be always people who need Canadian government’s protection.
Murat Kandemir, 28 Mayıs 2018
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