Chinese migrants on the
lam WebPosted Thu Aug 26 09:06:00 1999
VANCOUVER - Critics of Canada's
immigration system are furious with the disappearance of seven
Chinese migrants allowed to stay in Canada after they arrived in a
smuggling ship in July.
Triads hack gov't files
A published report says Chinese nationals linked to
organized crime broke into the computers the Canadian High
Commission in Hong Kong to hide their links with
triads, the Chinese mafia.
The National Post says the Canadian government has
for seven years covered up the security breach, in which
commission staff were allegedly bribed to delete computer
files.
A related concern is that some 2,000 stolen visa forms have
been used for people, including criminals, to enter Canada
illegally. |
Officials say the disappearance follows a familiar pattern.
Indeed, the current no-show rate is better than usual.
The seven, among the first boatload of illegal migrants to arrive
off B.C.'s coast, had their refugee applications processed then were
released into the community.
They were supposed to report this week for a routine hearing, but
failed to show. Arrest warrants have been issued.
The seven aren't considered dangerous. If they don't show up
within two weeks their refugee claims will be abandoned.
Of the 123 people on board the first ship, 86 were released
pending refugee hearings.
In all, 20 of the migrants have not reported, although some
phoned to request an extension, said an official with Immigration
Canada.
Traditionally, more than half of the Chinese nationals who file
refugee claims in Canada abandon them to live here illegally or to
sneak into the United States.
So the current no-show rate of 10 per cent is actually pleasing
news to Immigration Canada, the department's Rob Johnson told CBC
News.
But a 10 per cent no-show rate isn't good enough for Gary Lunn of
the Reform party.
He says send them back, lock them up.
"One, you would stop the future waves of refugees coming. Two, we
would not get a reputation as a dumping ground for the refugee
business, which we are," Lunn told CBC News.
Vancouver immigration lawyer Kathryn Sas says some people believe
it would be impractical and unfair to keep refugee claimants behind
bars.
"I don't think we can afford as a nation to detain everyone until
they're proven innocent, we can't do that in our criminal system or
our immigration system," Sas told CBC News.
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