Immigration Minister ready
to go after people smugglers
VANCOUVER - In the wake of the boatloads of
migrants who arrived off the coast of B.C. this summer, Immigration
Minister Elinor Caplan has unveiled plans to toughen up the
Immigration Act.
'...engage in
illegal activity...' | She outlined
her proposals in Vancouver Friday at a conference of immigration
lawyers.
They include plans to get tough on criminals who smuggle human
cargo -- by offering witness protection and landed immigrant status
to those who turn in smugglers.
She's also considering harsher penalties for people smugglers.
Caplan says the laws have to keep up,"The new phenomenon of
people smuggling and trafficking in human lives has resulted in
people coming here and going underground...whose lives are exploited
and often engage in illegal activity to pay off those huge debts."
Caplan says amendments to the Immigration Act could be coming
early in the new year.
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