MillieF

This is a new one on me

http://http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada...toba-1.3969874.

So are the people who are determined to be illegal immigrants in the States going to walk over into Canada and claim asylum here? What are their legal rights to do so?

caretaker

I think FL remarked a while ago that these were for the most part people who were on the brink of getting deported from the US and took the chance of freezing rather than get sent away. Your link didn't work for me but they've been walking across for a couple of months now and it's been in the news. When they started losing fingers and toes to the cold it was on the front page.

Former Lancastrian

They have been doing this for the last 5 years.
The vast majority have made refugee claims in the USA and had their claims denied and ordered to leave the USA. They are then released from Immigration Detention Centres.
They make their way to Minneapolis and then transported to the border. They are shown where to cross and avoiding the ports of entry. Most are found eligible to make a claim. Once the claim has been made they are released and carry on as normal until their claim is heard by an Immigration judge. Many have been granted refugee protection.
The new trend which is not widely reported is citizens of Djibouti applying for US visas. Once the visa has been issued they then fly into the USA and again make their way to one of 3 border crossing areas and then cross into Canada and make their refugee claims.
This is one of the better articles written about it

The new underground railroad to Canada

DigitalGhost

The link in the OP is broken because it contains the http:// part of the URL twice.

Is this the article?

22 refugees entered Manitoba near Emerson border over the weekend - Manitoba - CBC News

DigitalGhost

So in other words he passed through several perfectly safe countries where he could have filed a refugee application before he made his way to America. Honestly, what is that if it isn't opportunism and a blatant disregard towards everything that the concept of asylum represents?

Shard

Oh.. in Manitoba, I assumed from Manitoba

Pollyana

Sounds similar to the people who crossed several countries in Europe before landing at Calais and trying to get through the Channel Tunnel to claim asylum in the UK. A disregard of what asylum really means.

DigitalGhost

I couldn't agree with you more however unfortunately it is happening in Europe on a much larger scale.

Shard

The "concept of asylum" isn't a law of nature. It's man-made legislation, no more or no less. It's a bit rich for someone in a safe country to call it "opportunism". People have different reasons and circumstances for attempting to gain asylum in different countries.

Teaandtoday5

As well as different access to, and understanding of, information about what is safe and possible.

Former Lancastrian

So use a word to describe this.

Person makes a refugee claim in the USA. Gives the USA their story on why they are making a claim. Have their refugee hearing heard by an Immigration judge. The judge doesn't believe them and denies their claim. Person then makes their way to Canada and makes another claim.
They are also allowed to tell their story on why they need protection. Their story is completely different to the account they gave the US authorities. Again their claim is heard before an Immigration judge who has to make a decision.

A simple one word answer will suffice.

Teaandtoday5

Desperation?

Shard

Huh?

Former Lancastrian

OK and how many times should this person be allowed to do this bearing in mind that if Canada doesn't believe them then they can then move onto another country and start the whole process again.

Former Lancastrian

Is that because you didn't understand the question?