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20 migrants get second chance as immigration officials admit error
WebPosted Wed Aug 18 19:09:26 1999

VANCOUVER - Twenty immigrants among a group of 78 to be deported will now be remaining in Canada until their refugee claims are heard. Immigration officials were mistaken in thinking the 20 hadn't filed refugee status claims.

The group is among 131 Chinese migrants who have been detained at CFB Esquimalt in British Columbia, after they were forced from their ship off the Queen Charlotte Islands last week.

Immigration officials interviewed the migrants to determine their status and whether they should be processed as refugees under Canadian immigration law.

On Monday Immigration Canada said only 10 people would be claiming refugee status, another 78 would be deported and the status of 43 children, who had been with the group, would be determined at a later date.

The Canadian Council for Refugees found the error. A refugee advocacy agency had sought a review after hearing complaints about the screening process.

In admitting the mistake, Immigration Canada said it discovered the 20 migrants had indicated they wanted to make a refugee claim in their initial interview but those notes weren't seen by senior officers who reviewed the files.

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