Hungarian refugee influx perplexes government

Canada has long served as a top destination for refugee claimants, and according to new figures obtained by Postmedia News, the number of Hungarians now seeking asylum in the country has doubled in the last year.

The numbers show Canada has become the number one destination for Hungarian asylum seekers ­- the majority of whom are believed to be Roma.

Data provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees show that 4,409 Hungarians sought asylum here in 2011. Compared to last year, the spike is significant: 2010 saw 2,300 Hungarians applying for Canadian refugee status, while records put the 2009 figures around 2,440.

To put the numbers in perspective, Belgium ranked as their second highest destination in 2011 with 188 claims. The U.S. came in next with 47.

As the article notes, the flood of claimants has left the government scrambling to figure out what to do about the issue.

It noted an incident two years ago, when 95 Roma from the Czech Republic landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on the same night.

That event led to tighter visa requirements for Czech citizens, with Immigration Minister Jason Kenney labeling the Czech Roma applications as "bogus," adding that a number of Roma asylum seekers have been "coached to come to Canada, make a false asylum claim, and then register for provincial welfare benefits."

Other sources point to a rising anti-Roma sentiment in Hungary that may be contributing to the mass exodus.

But despite the reasons for the Hungarian refugee influx, Candice Malcolm, a spokesperson from Minister Kenny's office said the government had not yet decided what to do about existing visa requirements.

"Canada regularly reviews its visa policies toward other countries. Countries are aware that if they do not satisfy the conditions of a visa exemption, a visa may be imposed," Malcolm said in a statement.

"Our government looks at a wide range of factors when considering visa requirements for a given country, including current and potential migration issues, security of travel documents, as well as public safety, national security, bilateral relations, border management, human-rights issues, and the effectiveness of our immigration programs" she added.

Since Minister Kenny's hardline stance, it has gotten harder for Roma applicants to receive refugee status here. The Immigration and Refugee Board approved just two per cent of Czech refugee claims in 2010, and slightly more — at five per cent — in 2011. Numbers for Hungarian refugees hover around the same mark.

When the Balanced Refugee Reform Act takes effect in June, those with failed applications will be deported within 12 months — although many are expected to abandon their claims before the year-long window is up.

(Reuters photo)