PRESENTED BY FCJ Refugee Centre. Supported by Law Foundation s Access to Justice Fund

Transcription

1 PRESENTED BY FCJ Refugee Centre Supported by Law Foundation s Access to Justice Fund

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3 Historical Look at the Refugee Claims in Canada The numbers or refugee claims remain well within the range of what Canada has seen in the past.

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5 Mexico and immigration trends Deportations: More central American deportations from Mexico than US Guatemala 50,000 El Salvador 53,000 Honduras 70,000 Extra regionals migrants/refuges (most coming from Africa, South Asia and Asia) have waivers to cross each country from South America through Central America and Mexico. US is not accepting asylum seekers at the border, Executive Order Mexico= Turkey?

6 Challenging the Safe Third Country Agreement The Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement (2004) requires people to apply for asylum in the first country where they arrive. STCA: is ineffective public policy Put people at risk The conditions for immigrants and refugees had changes More than 200 law professors signed an open letter in February, calling on Ottawa to withdraw from the pact.

7 STATISTICS Provinces/Territories Jan Feb Total Air Ports of Entry Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Northwest Territories Nunavut Yukon Total - Air Ports of Entry Provinces/Territories Jan Feb Total Land Ports of Entry Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec ,085 Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Northwest Territories Nunavut Yukon Total - Land Ports of Entry 920 1,225 2,145

8 STATISTICS Provinces/Territories Jan Feb Total Ports of Entry Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec ,175 Ontario ,305 Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Northwest Territories Nunavut Yukon Total - Ports of entry 1,205 1,465 2,670 Provinces/Territories Jan Feb Total Inland Offices Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Northwest Territories Nunavut Yukon Total - Inland Offices

9 Asylum Claims and Interceptions Monthly Report - Calendar Year 2017 Provinces January February Total New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta BC Total - RCMP ,134

10 Implementation of Announcements Notice on RPD Scheduling Short Hearing Process Expeditated Refugee Process Double- book date of hearing Scheduling legacy cases? New board members

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13 REFUGEE HOUSES CHALLENGES Refugee Eligibility to Social Assistance Emergency Assistance for In land Refugee Claimants: Ontario Works Emergency Assistance is an invaluable fund that often times provides desperately needed income to people with no other access to financial assistance including refugee claimants who are not yet eligible for Ontario Works. (The coalition produced a letter to send with clients to OW in order to help with access to the emergency assistance that is available for people before they are eligible for regular assistance. )

14 Precarious Migrants People who possess some form of uncertain migration status are marked by the absence of any of the following: 1. Work authorization 2. The right to remain permanently 3. Not depending on a third party for one s right to be in Canada 4. Social citizenship rights available to permanent residents

15 Identifying challenges on housing Toronto is Now the Canadian Capital for: PRECARIOUS WORK PRECARIOUS HOUSING Shelter crisis: Sanctuary City Policy Finding shelter for precarious migrants City is using convenience cards

16 Identifying challenges on housing The issues had increase due to the refugee reform. There are many things that has been accumulating and now are exploding. The legacy cases the vast majority are in ON High number of undocumented people living in Toronto The rate of vacancy is close to 0 Airbnb Landlords asking for certify cheques for deposit

17 Identifying challenges on housing Central intake in Toronto is asking you to call back days for the calling back is longer and central intake is having a problem because there is not space. People is turn away because they do not have a refugee ID. There is a lot of people in Toronto that they do not have another option. Sometimes there is an open space outside of Toronto but the challenge is transportation, resources for the individuals/families. Housing problems is a combination with accessing to OW High amount for rent

18 Alternatives to detention WHAT TO DO when a person is detained, how the refugee houses can provide support The local alternatives, in Toronto we have Toronto Refugee Affairs Counsel (TRAC) that is an alternative that can house a detained person, If one of your clients has been detained, you can advise your client to contact someone from TRAC. TRAC IS AT THE Immigration Holding Centre from Monday to Thursday. Phone number is

19 Alternatives to detention Establishing a list of long term and short term refugee houses/shelters that are willing to be contacted by CBSA Officers who would be seeking to obtain accommodation for vulnerable populations as an alternative to detention.

20 Proclamation of Refugee Rights 2017 Date: April 03, 2017 Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm Location: Toronto City Hall. BEYOND FEAR AND LOSS, The visual expression of refugee experience of flight from homeland Date: April 6, 7 and 8 Location: Friends House Refugees Welcome or Excluded Here? Panel Discussion at York University April 4 from 12 to 2pm "REFUGEES ARE WELCOME" event Date: April 8, 2017 Time: Where: Bloor Street United Church Launch for Refugee Hearing Program Matthew House Date: Tuesday, April 4, 2017 Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00PMLocation: The Spoke Club Romero Vive 2017 A Celebration of Refugee Rights Date: Saturday April 8, 2017 Time: 7:00pm Location: Lithuanian House The Singh Decision Matters in 2017 Panel Discussion Date: April 20, 2017 Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm Location: Friends House

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