Mexicans pour into Canada from U.S
Read it all, but here's the end of the article...
Under the U.S.-Canada Safe Third Country Agreement, asylum seekers from the United States would normally be turned back. But those coming through the United States from Mexico are an exception because the United States would require those people to have a visa, but Canada does not.
Danny Yen, Canada Border Services Agency spokesman, explained that means the United States would not accept those people if turned back.
Legal Aid has begun footing the bill for the refugee claimants to get legal advice.
Immigration lawyer John Rokakis said seven Mexicans came through his door Tuesday with Legal Aid certificates paying for three hours of a lawyers time. Monday he saw three others and had a steady trickle last week as well. Few will have successful refugee claims, he predicted. Of the ones Ive seen there are maybe one or two that may have something, he said. One is a man who sought political asylum in the United States and was denied.
In the short term, the refugee claimants are the guests of city taxpayers. Some have U.S. bank accounts they cant access and others are destitute.
Teresa Piruzza, executive director of Ontario Works said, as of Monday, ten families and 18 individuals had applied for social assistance. Were just starting to process them, Piruzza said of the applications. Welfare currently pays up to $548 per month for individuals and $1,193 for families with two children under the age of 13.
As he recounted his story, Ortega repeatedly stressed his thanks to social services for helping his family. Social services, they help us too much, he said. I want to say thanks and to Canadians thanks.
No, no, thank you, Canada. Enjoy 'em.
Posted by: tu3031 2007-09-20 |