Mexicans, Czechs now need visas
July 14, 2009
After dramatic increases in the number of refugee claimants from Mexico and the Czech Republic in the past few years, Canada has imposed visa requirement on visitors from both countries in order to stem the flood.
The Czech Republic and Mexico are Canada’s two highest sources of refugee applications. The visa requirement went into effect at one minute past midnight this morning.
ImmigrationMinister Jason Kenney said in a statement that Canada’s refugee system is burdened by refugee claimants from these two countries which are “creating significant delays and spiralling new costs…. The sheer volume of these claims is undermining our ability to help people fleeing real persecution.”
Since the visa requirement was lifted in 2007 after the Czech Republic entered into the European Union, 3,000 refugee claims have been filed by Czech nationals, the vast majority of Roma origin, compared with fewer than five in 2006.
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Source : Giuseppe Valiante, National Post
