Rushing Towards Canada - Frightened by ICE

"as many as 7,000 Mexicans might be seeking refugee status in the coming weeks."

Its a different type of immigration backlash



Ice raids have left an imprint on undocumented Mexicans in the U.S. A social service agency in Florida encouraged a large group living in Naples to go to Canada and request refugee status. Perhaps it was that, plus news from other immigrants that Canada is much safer - there are not ICE raids occurring every few days (in fact, what country is raiding people's homes and schools in this mannter?)

While not refugees in the traditional sense, if you think about it they are being persecuted, they really are. Although Canadian authorities might not think so. "To win refugee status from the Refugee and Immigration Board of Canada, immigrants must show “a well founded fear of persecution” linked to their race, religion, nationality or political background." Undocumented immigrants from Latin American countries are being persecuted by ICE. In Chaparral, New Mexico parents kept their children home from school because they feared ICE would enter their school - again. You don't see ICE raids in schools looking for Irish immigrants.

Well, the rule of law, as they say, defines persecution in a different way. Like I"ve said before, the rule of law is capricious... it changes according to the situation - especially in the U.S. during the second Bush administration. The rule of law is different for Rove and Libby - it is much harsher on undocumented immigrants from Mexico or Haiti.

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Illegal Immigrants Chase False Hope to Canada
By MONICA DAVEY and ABBY GOODNOUGH
Published: September 21, 2007
New York Times

WINDSOR, Ontario, Sept. 20 — Fleeing stepped-up sweeps by the American authorities, illegal immigrants to the United States, mostly Mexican, are arriving in growing numbers at the foot of the bridge in this Canadian border town seeking refugee status.

Still more immigrants, mostly Mexicans living illegally in Florida, have begun trying to make their way past America’s northern border at other locations, the majority of them flying into the airport in Toronto, Canadian officials said Thursday.

The arrivals here began suddenly three weeks ago, just a family or two at first, fueled by the notion — largely unfounded, the authorities here say — that Canada would grant them asylum.

The journey, some of the immigrants said, was first suggested by an organization in Naples, Fla., which charged a fee for assisting with the paperwork. Now the idea has spread on the Internet and through social networks.

By Thursday, at least 200 people had turned up here, across the border from Detroit, with as much of their lives as they could shove into suitcases, boxes and garbage bags in their cars. Thousands more, refugee advocates and Canadian officials say, may be on their way.

...Illegal immigrants have been especially frightened of deportation in recent months, people in Naples and surrounding Collier County said. The community has been filled with tales of immigrants’ being caught and deported and the sending of government letters to employers warning them not to employ illegal immigrants...

...Already, they have filled a shelter with 30 single men and are now paying four motels to house families, said Maj. Wilfred Harbin, administrator for the Salvation Army here. Meals were being delivered to the families by taxi cab.

“We have no idea what we are going to do,” said Major Harbin, who said he had heard that as many as 7,000 Mexicans might be seeking refugee status in the coming weeks....



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photo: http://www.stepbystepimmigrationcanada.com/immigration-to-canada.jpg