Canada: Asylum Seeker Saga
In October of 2009, the freighter Ocean Lady appeared off the coast of British Columbia carrying a cargo of 76 Tamil men from Sri Lanka who sought asylum in Canada. They were promptly taken by the RCMP to Vancouver for screening.
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(Photo on right shows suspected illegal immigrants stand on the deck of the 'Ocean Lady" that was intercepted in 2009.)
In October of 2009, the freighter Ocean Lady appeared off the coast of British Columbia carrying a cargo of 76 Tamil men from Sri Lanka who sought asylum in Canada. They were promptly taken by the RCMP to Vancouver for screening.
Read more..
(Photo on right shows suspected illegal immigrants stand on the deck of the 'Ocean Lady" that was intercepted in 2009.)
Will new laws stop human smuggling?
SLE-USA News - June 16 — The Canadian government announced tough new legislation today to stop human smugglers from abusing Canada’s immigration system.
The new laws come on the heels of the arrest June 14, 2011 of 4 Sri Lankan Tamils in connection with the smuggling of 76 people in October 2009 on the small freighter Ocean Lady. The vessel was intercepted by a Canadian Navy frigate off Canada's Pacific Coast.
“This government continues to be absolutely clear. Human smuggling is a despicable crime and any attempts to abuse Canada’s generosity for financial gain will not be tolerated,” said Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. “By re-introducing this legislation we are sending a clear message that our doors are open to those who play by the rules - including all legitimate refugees. However, we will crack down on those who endanger human lives and threaten the integrity of our borders.”
“Canadians gave us a strong mandate to prevent the abuse of our generous immigration system,” said Citizenship & Immigration Minister Kenney. “Canadians have told us this abuse of our generosity is a real problem that must be stopped. Canada is a compassionate nation of immigrants with a proud history and tradition of welcoming refugees. At the same time, every sovereign country has a responsibility to protect its borders, and no Canadian thinks it’s acceptable for criminals to abuse Canada’s immigration system for financial gain.”
With the proposed Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada’s Immigration System Act, the Government of Canada is cracking down on human smugglers with a number of new measures:
• Making it easier to prosecute human smugglers and introducing mandatory minimum sentences for convicted human smugglers;
• Making ship owners and operators liable for use of their ships in human smuggling;
• Establishing mandatory detention of irregular mass arrivals to allow for the determination of identity and admissibility of illegal migrants and any other investigations;
• Preventing illegal migrants who are part of a smuggling operation from obtaining permanent resident status or bringing their family members to Canada for a period of five years;
• Ensuring that the medical benefits received are not more generous than those received by the average Canadian; and
• Revoking the refugee status of individuals who no longer require Canada’s protection — for example, should they leave Canada to return to their country of origin or should country conditions change.
SLE-USA News - June 16 — The Canadian government announced tough new legislation today to stop human smugglers from abusing Canada’s immigration system.
The new laws come on the heels of the arrest June 14, 2011 of 4 Sri Lankan Tamils in connection with the smuggling of 76 people in October 2009 on the small freighter Ocean Lady. The vessel was intercepted by a Canadian Navy frigate off Canada's Pacific Coast.
“This government continues to be absolutely clear. Human smuggling is a despicable crime and any attempts to abuse Canada’s generosity for financial gain will not be tolerated,” said Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. “By re-introducing this legislation we are sending a clear message that our doors are open to those who play by the rules - including all legitimate refugees. However, we will crack down on those who endanger human lives and threaten the integrity of our borders.”
“Canadians gave us a strong mandate to prevent the abuse of our generous immigration system,” said Citizenship & Immigration Minister Kenney. “Canadians have told us this abuse of our generosity is a real problem that must be stopped. Canada is a compassionate nation of immigrants with a proud history and tradition of welcoming refugees. At the same time, every sovereign country has a responsibility to protect its borders, and no Canadian thinks it’s acceptable for criminals to abuse Canada’s immigration system for financial gain.”
With the proposed Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada’s Immigration System Act, the Government of Canada is cracking down on human smugglers with a number of new measures:
• Making it easier to prosecute human smugglers and introducing mandatory minimum sentences for convicted human smugglers;
• Making ship owners and operators liable for use of their ships in human smuggling;
• Establishing mandatory detention of irregular mass arrivals to allow for the determination of identity and admissibility of illegal migrants and any other investigations;
• Preventing illegal migrants who are part of a smuggling operation from obtaining permanent resident status or bringing their family members to Canada for a period of five years;
• Ensuring that the medical benefits received are not more generous than those received by the average Canadian; and
• Revoking the refugee status of individuals who no longer require Canada’s protection — for example, should they leave Canada to return to their country of origin or should country conditions change.