Canada PoliticsQuebec-Vermont border seeing growing number of illegal migrants coming to Canada
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney have cracked down on a lot of illegal immigration schemes over the past 18 months.
Here's another one that has to be on the top of their respective 'to-do' lists: According to the Globe and Mail, over 260 illegal migrants have come into Canada this year through a feebly guarded border between Quebec and Vermont.
"The [Stanstead] border is the scene of growing chaos," the article notes.
"Illegal migrants hop over unguarded entry points or drive through guarded crossings on the outbound lanes, zipping by helpless Canadian border officials."
A large number of the migrants are from Roma communities in Europe, who, once in Canada, instigate refugee claims.
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According to the National Post's Stewart Bell, the migrants are part of a sophisticated smuggling ring.
Unnamed sources told him that migrants pay between $10,000 and $30,000 to be smuggled into Canada on a route that starts in Europe, goes through Mexico and Texas, then into Toronto.
"Mexico is being used as a transit hub because it does not have a visa requirement for Romanians, the sources said. The smugglers advise their customers to bring passport-sized photos, which are placed in false documents used in the United States and Canada," Bell writes.
Illegal migrants, and particularly Roma migrants from Hungary, have been a problem for the Canada Border Services Agency and immigration officials in recent years.
An intelligence report completed last year by the CBSA, and obtained earlier this month by CBC News, warned of a growing number of Hungarian refugee claimants "taking advantage of Canada's refugee processing system, social assistance and other benefits."
Here are two of the report's 'key findings:'
"Refugee claims possibly for financial gain:
Individuals seeking refugee protection in Canada are entitled to collect social assistance and various other federal and provincial benefits. Statistics show that a large part of Hungarian claimants are found to withdraw or abandon their claim prior to the conclusion of the refugee process. Based on information collected, these individuals appear to be well informed regarding Canada's refugee process and the associated financial assistance provided for all claimants awaiting a final determination. It can be inferred that these individuals are entering refugee claims for economic betterment."
"Financial impact:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada estimates that each failed refugee claimant costs Canada approximately $50,000. Based on the number of claimants from Hungary in 2011, these individuals alone could potentially cost Canada approximately $222,100,000."
The Harper government has taken action against illegal migrants.
Earlier this month, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney traveled to Hungary, in part, to dissuade others from coming to Canada and making false refugee claims.
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Over the past two years, the Harper government has made significant changes to the refugee act speeding up processing times and placing restrictions on claimants from countries unlikely to produce legitimate refugees.
And, in response to a large outcry by doctors and refugee groups, they restricted claimants' health benefits, leaving some refugees with only 'urgent health care' and others with care only if they have a disease that would be a risk to the public.
Unfortunately, it looks as if more needs to be done.
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