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In the summer of 2009, the Canadian government dramatically closed the door on people seeking Canada’s protection, by imposing visa requirements on the Czech Republic and Mexico (despite the serious human rights abuses occurring in those countries), and by turning back nationals of moratoria countries (Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Iraq and Zimbabwe) who make claims at the US-Canada border. Many of these people would have been recognized as refugees in Canada, but now risk being deported by the US.
The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration also announced plans for changes to Canada’s refugee determination system that would make it less fair, including the introduction of a two-tier system with lesser protections for some claimants based on country of origin, and a lower quality first-level decision. These changes increase the risk that Canada will send refugees back to persecution, in violation of our legal obligations.
For more information
Media release, Visas on Mexico and Czech Republic close the door on refugees, 14 July 2009
The challenge of fair and effective refugee determination, 23 July 2009
Media release, Lives still on hold – reaction to the lifting of the moratoria, 23 July 2009