Refugee & asylum claims: Canada to require visas from Mexico, Czech Republic

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Canada's announcement that it will impose visa requirements effective a minute after midnight Tuesday on the top two sources of refugee claimants — Mexico and the Czech Republic — prompted a quick and dissatisfied reaction from those countries.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Monday that many of the asylum requests are either rejected or abandoned, raising questions about the legitimacy of the claimants' allegations that they face persecution in their home countries.

The vast majority of the Czechs seeking asylum are from that country's Roma minority, which has faced a long history of racism and persecution according to various international human-rights organizations.

Paul St. Clair, executive director of the Roma Community Centre in Toronto, said the asylum claims are genuine, as shown by the high acceptance rate from the Immigration and Refugee Board, and that there is an element of discrimination at play in the Canadian government's decision.

Mexico's embassy in Canada was also quick to respond, saying in a statement that the government of Mexico "regrets the decision" and that "channels of collaboration remain open."

"Mexico will continue to promote actions toward modifying the Canadian measure as soon as possible," it said.

The new visa requirements stipulate that residents of the Czech Republic and Mexico will have to apply for temporary resident visas in order to visit, study or work in Canada.

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Canada to require visas from Mexico, Czech Republic

I hope the Czech government will impose reciprocally the requirement of visas for Canadian travellers including the whole wonderful "human-rights-proof" procedure of interviews, showing bank account statements etc.