Mediaboss Marketing

When it comes to the treatment of immigrants and refugees, its easy for Canadians to look south and feel smug. Immigration, always a hot-button issue for Americans, is now driving them completely around the bend.

Canadas immigration system really is better than the American system, morally and practically. But thats not because Canadians are better people than Americans, morally and practically. Its because our immigration policies have been smarter than those of our neighbours. And our policies have been able to be smarter because our geography has been luckier.

That may be changing. Consider the sudden surge in the number of people walking north across the Canada-United States border to make asylum claims, fleeing Donald Trump and America. If the U.S., historys most powerful people magnet, suddenly turns into an exporter of human beings, Canada is their logical destination. If the trickle of a few hundred grows into the tens of thousands a real possibility our smugness may be tested.

Asylum seekers' cold crossings to Canada: A guide to the saga so far

Globe editorial: Is Canada ready for Donald Trump's refugee crisis?

Campbell Clark: A solution to Canada's refugee surge is no easy feat

Until now, Canada has never worried much about large numbers of people just showing up and claiming asylum, or becoming illegal immigrants. Why not? Because of geography. For most of the planet, Canada is just about the hardest place on earth to get to.

But for someone already in the U.S., Canada is an absurdly easy destination. Spend a few minutes on Google Maps. (Its what anyone thinking of running from Trumpland is doing). At a thousand points along the worlds longest undefended border, an unauthorized journey to Canada is as simple as taking a taxi to the line, and then walking across a field or stepping across a road.

Unlike our American and European peers, our country has not, until now, had to deal with waves of unauthorized arrivals. As a result, our immigration flows unlike those of the United States are exceptionally orderly and law-abiding. Thats probably why Canadas legal immigration rate has for decades been two to three times higher than the United States, while sustaining an all-party, pro-immigration consensus. Canadas immigration system is more generous than the U.S., but in many ways, its also tougher.

Canadas immigrants and refugees are almost all chosen by Canada. They didnt set foot on Canadian soil until we invited them to. Most were chosen because of their education, work experience or professional qualifications; they are more educated than the average Canadian. And before they were allowed to enter Canada, they were investigated for criminal records, ties to terrorism and the like. Oh, and everyone had to queue up, sometimes for years. (Talk about screening for Canadian values.)

In other words, the Canadian immigration system basically treats this country like an exclusive club, but one that welcomes a lot of new members. The former helps to make the latter possible.

In the United States, in contrast, legal immigration levels are much lower, but over the last few decades, illegal immigration levels have often been high. There are more than 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S., up from 3.5 million in 1990. Canada chooses almost every immigrant and refugee who comes here, but the U.S. has millions of people who simply walked across the Mexican border and stayed. This drives American law-and-order types absolutely bonkers. We may be about to discover how Canadians react.

Mr. Trump is talking about building walls against immigrants, but geography bounded Canada on three sides by oceans, and theyre far more effective than any wall. And where there are no physical walls, Canada has erected invisible, bureaucratic ones.

Canada plans to invite in 300,000 newcomers this year. But for an uninvited guest coming from anywhere other than the U.S., Canada is a very difficult place to get to. You can see the European Union from the coast of Turkey and make the crossing in an inflatable boat. Florida is just over the horizon from Cuba, and Cubans have escaped using all kinds of homemade rafts. But unless youve got an ocean liner, you arent sailing to Canada.

And you can fly here from anywhere on earth, but Canada has erected a legal wall designed to prevent the uninvited from boarding a flight. Travellers from most of the world, including nearly all of Latin America, Africa and Asia, need a visa to come to Canada. Its an extremely effective measure for limiting the number of refugee claims. And any time a Canadian government, Liberal or Conservative, has seen an upsurge in refugee claims from one country the Czech Republic and Chile in the 1990s, Mexico a few years ago Ottawa has stemmed the flow by introducing a visa requirement.

And on those rare occasions when asylum seekers have managed to cross the ocean and circumvent the wall, as nearly 500 Sri Lankan Tamils aboard the MV Sun Sea did in 2010, Canadians have completely lost their cool. That year, Canada accepted more than 250,000 immigrants and refugees. It was smooth, humdrum and entirely unnewsworthy. But fewer than 500 asylum seekers on an unauthorized boat had Ottawa completely freaking out.

Which brings us to 2017. As we consider whats happening at the border and what might happen we shouldnt lose our perspective. Canada is already planning on accepting 40,000 refugees this year, most of them chosen overseas from countries such as Syria. If the spring brings a surge in refugee applicants from the U.S., Canada can compensate by reducing the number of refugees its seeking overseas. Or Ottawa could play with the mix of economic immigrants, family reunifications and refugees in this years planned total of 300,000 new Canadians by bumping up the number of refugees and lowering the others. It could also accommodate a spike in arrivals from the U.S. by temporarily raising the total immigration target.

Canada might be able to modify its safe third party rules. If someone from the U.S. comes to a Canadian border post and wants to claim asylum, well return them to America, because it has (or had, pre-Trump) a fair and legal refugee system. The loophole, which the new group of arrivals figured out, is that if someone crosses the Canadian border without authorization, they can make a refugee claim inside Canada. Thats partly a matter of international law and Canadian Supreme Court decisons, but Ottawa may have some wiggle room.

Ottawa can also hire more cops, bureaucrats and refugee adjudicators, speeding up the process for determining who is a genuine, legal refugee, and removing those who arent.

Canadas immigration system has retained a high level of popular acceptance because most of the people who come here, come here by choice our choice. Thats why an incident like the MV Sun Sea created so much angst, all out of proportion to the tiny handful of desperate people involved.

But unless the number of asylum seekers coming from the U.S. massively increases, to thousands of crossers each week, it will not break our peace, order and good government immigration system. It shouldnt break our politics either, unless we let it. Dont start freaking out just yet.

Follow us on Twitter: @GlobeDebate

Read the rest here:
Canada has never had a real migrant crisis. Trump may have just changed that - The Globe and Mail

GETTY

Previously unseen documents reveal how Germany proposes to relax EU human rights laws to make it easier to boot out rejected asylum seekers at times of mass influx as it attempts to crack down not the escalating migrant crisis engulfing the continent.

A Brussels source said: This is another element in efforts to energise readmission of people to wherever they came from.

The move marks a major backtrack from German Chancellor Angela Merkel who welcomed 1.1 million migrants into her nation following her ill-fated open door refugee policy.

GETTY

This is another element in efforts to energise readmission of people to wherever they came from

Brussels source

The major U-turn comes as Mrs Merkel battles to hold on to her premiership as Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Martin Schulz Social Democrat Party (SPD) make strides before the German elections.

Her grip on power is growing weaker as SPD celebrates a surge in support since nominating European Parliament president Mr Schulz to take on the current leader.

Germany passed a bill on Tuesday which will see convicted criminals, who are classified as dangerous to authorities, forced to wear an ankle tag.

It will be applied for a maximum of three months and then reconsidered.

AFP/Getty Images

1 of 8

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chat prior to the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission

Those considered will have committed serious crimes such as murder and manslaughter or a terrorist attack.

Meanwhile German officials have urged Brussels to relax human rights safeguards so more asylum seekers can be deported while awaiting the outcome of their cases.

The EU signed a controversial deal with Turkey last year, allowing the return of migrants only with Ankara.

GETTY

But if approved, this proposal would see immigrants transferred to other places, including south of the Mediterranean.

While the EU says it has the right to send away all economic migrants if it chooses, its existing laws on human rights say asylum seekers awaiting a ruling on their cases can only be deported to countries that meet certain conditions.

The working paper lists them as including, safety from threat and persecution, humane reception conditions, and at least partial access to medical care, education and the labour market.

Some parts of this "clearly exceed" the basic safeguards stipulated by the Geneva convention on refugees and the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, it says.

But EU officials will consider a safe zone concept, which could mean sending people back to certain areas of countries otherwise deemed too dangerous.

However the plans have not been welcomed by everyone.

Ska Keller, a Green member of the European Parliament, said: These plans are overturning the international law on refugees. This is an utter betrayal, inhumane.

GETTY

But the document says the proposal would be instrumental in discouraging people-smugglers.

It read: This is not about building a Fortress Europe. It is about combating illegal immigration, which has already cost the lives of thousands, and about replacing it by a regulated system of legal admissions, combined with humane living conditions, assured by the EU in third countries.

More than 1.1 million migrants entered Germany during the migrant crisis 2015, with most coming from Middle Eastern and North African countries.

And it appears Mrs Merkel's grip on power is growing ever weaker, with rebellion across the country against her controversial immigration policies.

It is not the first time the German leader has hinted at regret over opening her country's doors to a stream of refugees.

Following a devastating defeat in the Berlin state elections last year, she said: If I could, I would turn back the time by many, many years.

However it is feared it is little too late for the Chancellor, whose party even called for a burka ban in the wake of the a string of terror attacks and the sickening sex assaults in Cologne.

Read the original here:
Germany paves way for terror-linked migrants to wear TAGS as it creates deportation rules - Express.co.uk

A national petition launched by a Calgary lawyer is calling on the federal government to temporarily suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement.

The 2004 Canada-United States agreementrequires refugees to make an asylum claimin the first possible country they reach. Under the agreement, Canada is unable to consider asylum for anyone who enters from the U.S., which isdeemed a safe country in which to apply for asylum.

The agreement has recently been linked to an increasing number of people trying to illegally cross the border from the U.S. into Canada.

"The situation has changed due to immigration and refugee policy changes in the States, as evidenced by the situation on ground with refugee claimants not feeling that they will be able to go through a fair process in the U.S. and are seeking to enter into Canada," saidJeremyBarretto, a lawyer with the group behind thepetition, Canadians for Welcoming Refugees.

Hundreds of refugees in the U.S. have been braving long walks in freezing winter temperatures to cross Canadaoutside of regular border crossings.

Barretto says as of Feb. 17 this year,80 individuals have crossed Manitoba's border on foot and he's concerned more people will risk injury or death if the situation isn't resolved.

"Every person is important and we should make sure that people who are fleeing persecution are welcome to make a claim and go through a fair process in Canada," he said.

The request is supported by over 200 Canadian law professors and refugee law experts, and sponsored by Liberal MPDarshanKang.

Under the agreement, it can be suspended for three months, and be extended another threeby either party. The group is asking the government to merely suspend the agreement and monitor the situation.

"This is a non-partisan issue, this is about helping people and protecting people who are fleeing persecutions, so I think there will be much more advocacy to come," he said.

Calgary MP Michelle Rempel agrees that something must be done to keep migrants safe, but feels it must be done in a way that protects the integrity of the immigration system.

"We shouldn't be glossing over the fact that this is, in fact, illegal," she said.

"Both our countries, the United States and Canada, have systems by which people's asylum claims are evaluated. We need to rely on those systems to work."

Rempel is the opposition critic for immigration, refugees and citizenship. She says those asylum-seekers are putting themselves at risk.

Rempelsays there has to be a team effort between all political parties and the media to communicate to people that there are proper, legal and safe ways to enter Canada.

"I grew up in Winnipeg, and the first concern that Ihave is this is a very unsafe activity," she said."It's very cold, there's a lot of risk involved here and people shouldn't be doing this."

Visit link:
Petition calls on federal government to act on migrant crisis - CBC.ca

Highlights

The trend of increased numbers of refugees and migrants on the Central Mediterranean route continues in 2017 - more than 80 per cent of all sea arrivals during the first 6 weeks of the year were registered in Italy.

Major risks confronted by refugee and migrant children and women along this route remain to be detention, extortion, gender-based violence, abuse, exploitation and drowning at sea.

In January 2017, UNICEF supported outreach teams identified 1,793 children at risk in Turkey and across Europe, while 739 children, including adolescents, joined structured education activities in Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. In addition, 256 babies and infants accessed IYCF services, and 1,438 children received culturally appropriate basic supplies in Serbia and Italy.

As UNICEF enters into its third year of response to the Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe, in January it launched its Humanitarian Appeal for 2017 requesting a total of US$ 43,452,000 for continued interventions in response to this complex crisis.

In line with the inter-agency Refugee and Migrant Plan for Europe, UNICEF interventions will help government institutions and civil society organizations address the immediate, as well as middle to long-term needs of refugee and migrant children by sustaining service provision while strengthening national capacities in the areas of child protection, education and child rights monitoring.

SITUATION IN NUMBERS

6,856 # of arrivals in Europe through Italy, Greece and Spain in January 2017 (UNHCR, 17 February 2017)

26 per cent children among arrivals in Italy and Greece in January 2017 (UNHCR, 17 February 2017)

386,635 # of child asylum-seekers in Europe between January and December 2016 (Eurostat, 8 February 2017)

98,688 # of child arrivals in Europe through Greece, Italy, Spain and Bulgaria in 2016 (UNHCR, 9 February 2017)

33,424 # of unaccompanied and separated children arriving in Europe through Greece, Italy and Bulgaria in 2016 (UNHCR, 11 January 2017)

24,700 # of estimated stranded children in Greece and other southeastern European countries as of January, 2017 (UNHCR, 31 January 2017)

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs

In January 2017, children made up 26 per cent of the 6,8561 refugees and migrants, who arrived in Europe through Italy, Greece and Spain. According to latest available data, out of the 381,892 refugees and migrants who arrived in Europe last year through the Mediterranean and by land through Bulgaria, 98,688 were children (including 34,500 unaccompanied or separated children). This number represents less than one per cent of all children, affected by war, violence and instability in top countries of origin (Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea and Nigeria). During the same period, 386,635 first-time asylum claims were registered by children across Europe2- more than two thirds of them were in Germany, followed by France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and Sweden.

The trend of increased numbers of refugees and migrants on the Central Mediterranean Route, observed during the second half of 2016, has continued in 2017. Out of the 6,856 sea arrivals in Europe in January 2017, 65 per cent were registered on Italian shores. Although the proportion of children among arrivals in Italy is relatively small, there are significant concerns with major risks faced by refugees and migrants (among whom children are the most vulnerable) along the route through North Africa and the Mediterranean, which include drowning at sea, detention, extortion, gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation by smugglers and armed groups.

National authorities and agencies continue to improve the reception conditions for refugee and migrant children in Greece, Italy, Germany and across the Balkans. Yet many refugee and migrant children have been living for months, sometimes a year, in reception and accommodation centres, which do not provide age and gender-appropriate shelter, protection and services. Children and families mental health and overall well-being has been affected by long waits and an uncertain future due to backlogs in asylum and relocation procedures.

Despite the recent acceleration of relocation of refugees and migrants from Greece and Italy, by 31 January only 3,048 children, including 233 UASC3, have been relocated from Greece and Italy (only 1 from Italy). According to the European Commission, there are many challenges related to the relocation of UASC, one of the major ones relating to married children (particularly when they are under the age of 17) since many Member States have legal obstacles to allow the relocation of this category of separated children (e.g. the adult marrying a minor may be sentenced). As a consequence, they reject relocation requests submitted.

With the improvement of weather conditions in the past few weeks, irregular cross-border movements increased again, leading to border incidents and further complication of the situation in Serbia (currently hosting 7,900 refugees and migrants, including 3,103 children).

Read this article:
UNICEF Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe: Regional Humanitarian Situation Report #20, 15 February 2017 - ReliefWeb

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Kilap Gueye and Abdellatif Yakoubou arrived in Italy at two very different moments in history.

LONDON The head of Europe's police agency said it would "look again" at the largest migrant shipwreck in the Mediterranean this year after an investigation by Reuters and BBC Newsnight exposed a gap in the response by law enforcement.

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt At around 2 a.m. on Saturday, April 9, a large blue fishing boat carrying hundreds of African migrants and their children capsized just off the coast of Egypt.

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A hot meal. Dry clothes. A smile. Sometimes the first friendly face in months for hundreds of thousands of migrants who have come to Europe in the past two years is a volunteer aid worker.

ASOTTHALOM, Hungary On a recent evening on Hungary's border with Serbia, a fleet of police trucks raced along the dusty boundary.

BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Tun Tun Win and his co-workers from Myanmar thought life was fine at the Thammakaset chicken farm in central Thailand, where they reared hundreds of thousands of birds for export to the European Union.

AGADEZ, Niger On Mayango Jallahs second attempt to reach Europe, he recalls, the dinghy he was in came within sight of southern Spain.

STOCKHOLM Swedes rarely use cash, but building firm owner Piotr cant get enough of the stuff.Every week, he spends hours racing from ATM to ATM using four credit cards to withdraw up to 80,000 Swedish crowns ($9,400). He needs the cash, he says, to pay the undocumented immigrant workers he employs.

ABUJA/DAKAR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A promising student who dreamed of going to university, Mary was 16 when a woman approached her mother at their home and offered to take the Nigerian teenager to Italy to find work.

See the original post here:
Europe's Migrant Crisis | Reuters.com