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Teens claiming refugee status
However the seven -- all under 18 at the time of arrest -- have filed claims for refugee status in Canada, so their order to leave is put on hold until their claims are heard. And even though their refugee hearings may not be for months, adjudicator Carmen de Carlo ordered all seven remain in detention. He said the seven, who admitted they were in Canada only to get to the U.S., likely would try to get to the U.S. again if not held. The seven were among nine migrants found last Tuesday in the back of a van driven by Shannon Yoell, 22, of Chatham-Kent, after Yoell was pulled over by U.S. immigration authorities at the Ambassador Bridge. All were refused entry to the U.S. but the two oldest were held as witnesses by U.S. authorities. They were returned to Canada on Monday night, said Marc Bourgeois of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's Windsor office. In examining the other seven, Canadian authorities found none had identity documents although jail officials found each had $200 US sewn inside their pant leg -- the same money-hiding spot discovered on the 10 Chinese migrant girls found in a van in Wallaceburg, near Walpole Island, Jan. 5. Five of the seven said they didn't know the others and told Canadian immigration authorities they came to Canada by plane or boat to Vancouver. However, two who said they came to Canada last month via Pearson International Airport in Toronto said the whole group travelled together on a flight from Hong Kong and that a smuggler, who supplied them with false travel documents, travelled with them. Yoell picked up the nine in Chatham-Kent and has told U.S. immigration officials he was paid $500 upfront and was to be paid another $1,200 after he drove the nine to New York City. Yoell, who's in custody in the U.S., has been providing information to U.S. authorities, said Brian Slonac, of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Previous story: Pneumonia study finds many improve just as well at home Next story: Last-ditch effort to keep schools open CANOE / LFP Home / Local News / Sports / Business / Today / The Londoner / Opinions / Classifieds/ Special Features / Weather / Customer Service / Subscribe / Help Have a news tip? Call 667-5525, fax 667-4528, or email us: newsdesk@lfpress.com a division of Sun Media Corporation. CANOE home | We welcome your feedback. Technical questions? Click here. Copyright © 2000, Canoe Limited Partnership. All rights reserved. |
