Desperate Colombians turning to false Mexican passports to enter Canada
Desperate Colombians turning to false Mexican passports to enter Canada: "OTTAWA (CP) - Colombians desperate to leave their war-torn country are attempting to bypass stricter Canadian legislation by claiming refugee status at inland points rather than traditional U.S.-Canada border crossings.
Citizenship and Immigration figures show Colombian claims at airports and other inland points jumped from more than doubled from 2004 to 2005, jumping from 114 to 243.
Border claims dropped by 75 per cent during the same period. Those making it to Canada are using a myriad of strategies to get here, including the use of fake Mexican passports, refugee advocates say.
Mexicans are the only Latin Americans who don't need visas to come here.
Francisco Rico, co-director of a Toronto refugee assistance group says three Colombians have sought assistance at his centre so far this year carrying fraudulent Mexican documents. "
Citizenship and Immigration figures show Colombian claims at airports and other inland points jumped from more than doubled from 2004 to 2005, jumping from 114 to 243.
Border claims dropped by 75 per cent during the same period. Those making it to Canada are using a myriad of strategies to get here, including the use of fake Mexican passports, refugee advocates say.
Mexicans are the only Latin Americans who don't need visas to come here.
Francisco Rico, co-director of a Toronto refugee assistance group says three Colombians have sought assistance at his centre so far this year carrying fraudulent Mexican documents. "
posted by Tina Kyrtsos and Mario Ferrer at 3:38 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home