National Post Online - news
National Post
 News Financial Post Arts & Life Sports Commentary Diversions Forums


Careerclick

 Canada
 + News
 + Reporter
 + Politics
 + West to East

 World
 + News
 + Postcard
 + Observer






Search Help
Sort by:
Date
Rank
 
Category


Thursday, August 12, 1999

The U.S. takes a tougher stand with migrants

Adrienne Tanner and Marina Jimenez
National Post

Unlike Canada, which will not turn away a ship bound for its shores no matter who is aboard, the United States takes a hard line with illegal migrants sailing into American waters.

Illegal migrants destined for the U.S. are often halted at sea and sent home without ever setting foot on American soil, says Russ Bergeron, media relations director for the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Coast Guard intercepts suspicious ships and sends INS officers aboard to interview passengers. "We make a decision whether or not they have any credibility," Mr. Bergeron said.

Preliminary reviews are conducted at sea to weed out refugee claimants and economic immigrants who "can't demonstrate a credible claim for asylum."

If the vessels being turned away are unseaworthy, the U.S. Coast Guard takes the passengers to nearby countries like Bermuda or Mexico. People on ships intercepted in the Pacific Ocean are taken to Tinian, in the Marianas.

From there, the migrants are sent back to their countries of origin. "If you land them in the States . . . they get embroiled in legal procedures that could take years," Mr. Bergeron said.

Canada's Immigration Act dictates a more welcoming approach to asylum seekers. "Canada has no jurisdiction to turn anyone away," said George Varnai, a spokesman for Citizenship and Immigration Canada. "Once a person is in Canadian water, he can seek admission to Canada."

Canadian immigration officials can contact a boat at sea and warn passengers of the potential consequences of coming to Canada -- that they could be deported if they are found not to have a credible refugee claim. But if they remain intent on landing, the government cannot refuse them, Mr. Varnai said.

The U.S. and Canada are both signatories to the United Nations Convention on Refugees, which obliges countries to provide asylum to those who fear persecution on the basis of race, religion, social group, nationality or political opinion.

Canada allows all refugee claimants a hearing before an independent board. Only those who pose a threat to the Canadian public are refused entry to Canada and even they have a right to legal representation and a deportation hearing.

Only a tiny portion of the undocumented refugee claimants who arrived in Canada last year came by boat. The vast majority, 4,813, arrived by plane, said an immigration official.

 
 Home Site Map Feedback Info

Copyright © Southam Inc. All rights reserved.
Optimized for browser versions 3.0 and higher.