Mexico says asylum claims to Canada began dropping final month

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OTTAWA — Mexico says asylum claims to Canada began dropping final month — a revelation that comes amid mounting strain on Ottawa to reimpose visas for Mexican residents.

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Mexico’s overseas ministry says each nations are enterprise unspecified “joint measures,” which it credit for a decline within the variety of claims filed in December.

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However Immigration Minister Marc Miller says he hasn’t but seen proof of that decline, and is maintaining mum on whether or not both nation has modified its insurance policies.

Asylum claims from Mexico have shot up lately, at the same time as the speed of Mexican candidates who really get refugee standing stays properly under that of different nations.

That’s partially the results of the federal government’s choice in 2016 to raise the visa requirement, making it simpler for folks from Mexico to make an asylum declare in Canada.

The Conservatives need the Liberals to reverse their repeal of the visa requirement, arguing the change has led to fraud, abuse and pressure on the asylum system.

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Mexico’s overseas ministry wrote in a press release late Thursday that it’s vital to keep up the financial advantages of simpler journey between each nations.

Miller echoed that time earlier this week, and mentioned Monday that each nations are taking a look at choices to decrease the variety of claims, including that he’s avoiding giving extra element to keep away from exploitation.

But he didn’t affirm Thursday whether or not any insurance policies have modified on account of these diplomatic talks.

“Any motion clearly can entail a response,” Miller mentioned. “Clearly, there may be some measure of some sensitivity to it.”

Miller added that “Mexico is just one a part of the story” of irregular immigration, and he repeated that unhealthy actors would exploit the system if Ottawa was totally clear about what’s being mentioned.

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When requested if insurance policies have led to any modifications within the variety of claims, Miller replied, “I haven’t seen any but.”

The Biden administration has warned that human traffickers linked to Mexican cartels could also be exploiting Canada’s visa-free regime with a purpose to get folks into the U.S.

Certainly, the shared northern border is changing into a political concern in each nations, mentioned David MacNaughton, who served as Canada’s ambassador to Washington throughout Donald Trump’s first time period as president.

The U.S.-Mexico border has lengthy been a focus for Trump, and certain might be as properly for President Joe Biden as a rematch of their 2020 election battle takes form.

However Republicans in Congress have in current months made an effort to convey the U.S. border with Canada into the dialog about irregular migration.

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“More and more, we’ve heard complaints concerning the northern border” within the U.S., MacNaughton informed a webinar hosted by the Canadian World Affairs Institute.

“This isn’t only a Mexico concern — it’s really a mirrored image of, I believe, what’s an rising form of isolationism and protectionism in america.”

Quebec Premier Francois Legault cited the rise in Mexican claimants in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau final week, warning that his province’s companies for refugees are reaching a “breaking level.”

Mexico’s assertion famous that Quebec particularly has benefited from the cultural, tourism and scientific exchanges.

The ministry says that Mexico and Canada are aligned on the necessity for “a constructive method and a complete dialogue that considers all elements motivating” irregular immigration.

— With recordsdata from Laura Osman

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