Refugee women speak out
VANCOUVER - For the first time, some of the
Chinese migrants who've been accepted as refugees are speaking out
about their experience with Canada's immigration system.
Only 14 of the 600 who arrived in B.C. last summer have been
allowed to remain in the country. Now two of the women say despite
their success, they don't believe they were treated fairly.
One of the women told the Immigration and Refugee Board she would
be fined and jailed in China for the crime of having more than one
child. The second woman was allowed to stay because of what Canadian
officials term "appalling treatment" by Chinese authorities, which
included forced sterilization.
While they're grateful they were believed, they say it was was
unfair to keep them in jail for 10 months. They're also concerned
about hundreds of other migrants who are still in detention.
So far, 100 migrants have been denied refugee status, and sent
back to China.
Many critics say Canada needs a cheaper, less elaborate system
for dealing with refugee claims. But advocates say the experiences
of these two women show why a full hearing is more important than a
speedy hearing.
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