Rookie120 0 #1 September 20, 2007 Quote Refugees pose 'potential crisis' Mayor Francis asks the feds for help to deal with influx of Mexicans Doug Schmidt and Dave Battagello, The Windsor Star Published: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 With city shelters filled and a surge of further refugee claimants expected to flood into Windsor, Mayor Eddie Francis is pleading for financial help from Ottawa. "When there is a possibility of adding thousands to the local social assistance system as a result of refugee claimants crossing the border into Windsor, we will become overwhelmed and our current resources will not suffice," Francis wrote in a letter sent Wednesday to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Over the past three weeks, 45 families and 31 individuals -- approximately 200 people -- entered Canada at the Detroit River crossings and applied in Windsor for shelter and social assistance after filing refugee claims with the Canada Border Services Agency. Municipal agencies dealing with the sudden influx of mainly Mexican refugee applicants are renting out hotel rooms and bracing for predicted thousands more to come. Concepcion Montiel and her daughter Perla, 2, arrived in Windsor Monday by bus with two other families. Montie said a lack of jobs in Florida, the fear of deportation and the perceived opportunities promised in Canada persuaded her to move her family north. Scott Webster, The Windsor Star "We don't have the means, ability or capacity to deal with this additional cost. We are not able to deal with this potential crisis locally," Francis wrote Harper. "I don't believe that Windsor's residents and taxpayers should have to foot the bill for U.S. immigration policy," Francis told The Star. He was referring to the suspected source of the problem -- a recently begun crackdown on illegal immigrants in economically struggling regions of the U.S. South. With the bulk of the latest arrivals being long-time Mexican illegals dislodged from their homes and workplaces in southwestern Florida, fingers are being pointed at unscrupulous outfits charging money and then directing desperate individuals and their families toward the Windsor border crossing. "We are aware of these operations -- they have been advertising incorrect and false information," said Marina Wilson, a spokeswoman for Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Wilson said Canadian immigration authorities have started contacting the Mexican and Haitian communities in Florida, as well as local media there, to get the word out that nothing has changed in Canadian refugee policy. "The fact someone wants to come here for better economic opportunity or a better quality of life ... that's no basis for a successful refugee claim," said Immigration Refugee Board (IRB) spokesman Charles Hawkins. But a group operating out of Naples, Fla., vowed to continue sending the so-called economic refugees to Windsor. "They ask, 'Is Canada an option?' and I say, 'Yes, it is an option,'" Jacques Sinjuste of the Jerusalem Haitian Community Center said in a phone interview Wednesday. For a US$300 "donation" (most of those interviewed in Windsor claim they paid US$400), JHCC staff download forms off the Internet, help applicants fill them out and give directions on how to get to the Canadian border. Sinjuste said he's simply providing a "referral" service. "Most of the time when the people come, they say they've heard something (about Canada). I say that I've heard the same thing," he said. Jacquie Rumiel, director of programs for new Canadians at the YMCA, where refugee claimants are referred by Windsor's border guards, said the new people she's seeing are "mostly" Mexicans coming from Florida. To be successful, refugee claimants must prove they are fleeing persecution at home, something most of the Mexicans arriving in Windsor would be hard-pressed to do. The IRB's Hawkins said there was only a 13 per cent acceptance rate of refugee claims filed by Mexican nationals during the first six months of the year, compared to an overall rate of 47 per cent. But the average processing time for a refugee claim in Canada is currently 14.2 months, said Hawkins, a period during which the applicant is eligible for financial and other support. A failed claimant then also has the right to seek leave to appeal his or her rejection to federal court. Despite the high number of failed applications cited by the IRB, Sinjuste said he gets calls to his Naples centre from "a lot of people" who've arrived in Windsor. "They say everything is okay -- they are doing good, going to schools, going to work," he said. Sinjuste said he was visited last week by an official from the Canadian consulate general in Miami but couldn't remember if he was told to stop helping economic refugees go to Canada. "I don't think they tell me that," he said. Federal bureaucrats confirmed the meeting but said they couldn't divulge details. Others are warning about the types of activities Sinjuste is engaged in. "The way he's misleading the most vulnerable is infuriating," said Pegg Roberts, executive director of Detroit's Freedom House, which runs a shelter and assists asylum-seekers with their refugee claims. Sinjuste said he uses the Freedom House website to download refugee claim forms and advises the people he assists to seek help there. "I do not help economic refugees," said Roberts, adding her non-profit organization assists the fleeing victims of torture and war crimes and has no affiliation with the JHCC. "This is a problem the U.S. has allowed to create. It's really unfair for Canada to have to face this," said MP Joe Comartin (NDP -- Windsor-Tecumseh), his Party's public safety and national security critic. "This is very much being driven by (the U.S. Department of) Homeland Security," he said, predicting that, "with few exceptions," most of these "economic claimants" will eventually be sent back. I like it how he blames the US for illegals coming to Canada. It's all fun and games and fun to make fun of somebody until there problem also becomes your.If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #2 September 20, 2007 And title means... what?? Pls help me out, I'm an alien dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #3 September 20, 2007 Quote And title means... what?? Pls help me out, I'm an alien LOL, sorry fingers typing faster than brain can think. I fixed it.If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #4 September 20, 2007 QuoteThere They're off to Canada now. Third time's the charm. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #5 September 20, 2007 Quote Third time's the charm. Did I ever mention I failed english in high school?If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #6 September 20, 2007 Quote I like it how he blames the US for illegals coming to Canada. It's all fun and games and fun to make fun of somebody until there problem also becomes your. Hola. Cómo es usted mi amigo? Por favor, no critique la gran nación socialista de Canadá puesto que seré forzado para informar a “Captian Canadá” en usted. Somos una nación eso acepta cualquier persona en el país no preguntas, damos las más mucha derechas a los inmigrantes que a nuestros propios ciudadanos. Debido a nuestros “corazones de sangre” hemos decidido es major para dar para arriba nuestra lengua y nuestra cultura de modo que no nos ofendamos los inmigrantes. A partir de este día adelante, será illegal para los Canadienses llevados en el país para hablar la lengua Inglesa. La necesidad habla Español, Manderine, Cantonés o Punjabi. Estos nuevos leyes no se aplican en la provincia de Quebec, puesto que todo el Quebecois es “pure lain – Vive le Quebec Libre” donde los leyes de la lengua del Francés solamente se han utilizado por los 30 años pasados. Le agradecemos por usted que entiende, su cheque del bienestar está en el correo. Tenga un buen día. jaja ... Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #7 September 20, 2007 Quote Hola. Cómo es usted mi amigo? Por favor, no critique la gran nación socialista de Canadá puesto que seré forzado para informar a “Captian Canadá” en usted. Somos una nación eso acepta cualquier persona en el país no preguntas, damos las más mucha derechas a los inmigrantes que a nuestros propios ciudadanos. Debido a nuestros “corazones de sangre” hemos decidido es major para dar para arriba nuestra lengua y nuestra cultura de modo que no nos ofendamos los inmigrantes. A partir de este día adelante, será illegal para los Canadienses llevados en el país para hablar la lengua Inglesa. La necesidad habla Español, Manderine, Cantonés o Punjabi. Estos nuevos leyes no se aplican en la provincia de Quebec, puesto que todo el Quebecois es “pure lain – Vive le Quebec Libre” donde los leyes de la lengua del Francés solamente se han utilizado por los 30 años pasados. Le agradecemos por usted que entiende, su cheque del bienestar está en el correo. Tenga un buen día. jaja ... At least your prepared.If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanuckInUSA 0 #8 September 20, 2007 Quote At least your prepared. No hablo Inglés. Por favor, traduzco al Español, a Manderine, a Cantonés o Punjabi. Try not to worry about the things you have no control over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #9 September 20, 2007 Quote No hablo Inglés. Por favor, traduzco al Español, a Manderine, a Cantonés o Punjabi. No idea what you just said so I will reply with "AHHHHH mkay".If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #10 September 21, 2007 Quote At least your prepared. Holy crap, why did I break my little head to learn that lousy language? Your, you are, you're - make your decision, dude! dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #11 September 21, 2007 >Holy crap, why did I break my little head to learn that lousy language? To serve as a good example to "native" americans! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #12 September 21, 2007 they might turn around when they realize how little purchasing value the USD has in Canada now. I was shocked to read that the looney now has parity with the greenback. 5 years ago it was $1.50 CDN = 1USD. In recent times as the dollar has fallen against the euro, it was 1.33 = 1. Now it's .99 = 1. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #13 September 21, 2007 QuoteHoly crap, why did I break my little head to learn that lousy language? Your, you are, you're - make your decision, dude! When did you become the grammar police? How about I just let you know when I give a shit!If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #14 September 21, 2007 Quote they might turn around when they realize how little purchasing value the USD has in Canada now. I was shocked to read that the looney now has parity with the greenback. 5 years ago it was $1.50 CDN = 1USD. In recent times as the dollar has fallen against the euro, it was 1.33 = 1. Now it's .99 = 1. Wanna buy some oil?Blue eyed sheikhs are us. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #15 September 22, 2007 QuoteQuoteHoly crap, why did I break my little head to learn that lousy language? Your, you are, you're - make your decision, dude! When did you become the grammar police? How about I just let you know when I give a shit! She's only trying to help you out. Sheeesh! Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
