Harvard Report Finds Canada, U.S. Failing in Refugee Protection
The Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic (HIRC) recently published a report on the condition of U.S.-Canadian border policy. The report takes a closer look at how the U.S.-Canada Safe Third Country Agreement has fared since its implementation in 2004. The agreement was designed to keep refugees and asylum claimants from passing through Canada in order to seek immigration aid in the U.S., and vice versa (with certain exceptions). HIRC’s report has found that Canada has been systematically closing its borders to asylum seekers as well as neglecting its refugee protection obligations under domestic and international law. The report was conducted by HIRC affiliates Dr. Efrat Arbel S.J.D. and Alletta Brenner in cooperation with leading scholars and advocates on both sides of the border, including representatives from Human Rights First, Amnesty International Canada, the Canadian Council for Refugees, and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers. Arbel noted that, despite the assertion that Canadian borders are open to “genuine” refugees and that Canada’s refugee system is “among the most generous in the world,” Canada’s expanding and intensifying border technologies are leading to far fewer border admissions.
Arbel’s and Brenner’s report also found that the Safe third Country Agreement has not achieved its goal of protecting U.S. and Canadian borders. There has been a marked rise in smuggling and unauthorized border crossings, which has led to more dangerous crossing conditions.
http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2013/11/26_hirc-report-on-canada-us-refugee-protection.html
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13 Pregnant Women Detained by ICE in Texas During Four-Month Period in 2013
Buzzfeed.com reports that an investigation led by fusion.net found that between August and November of 2013, Immigration and Customs Enforcement held thirteen pregnant women in federal detainment facilities. ICE confirmed the number, stating that the women were an “enforcement priority” due to having recently entering the country or having been issued final orders of removal. ICE spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa emphasized the steps ICE takes to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of its detainees. The women were held from periods of time ranging from less than a day to several weeks. According to ICE guidelines, pregnant women should not be detained outside of extraordinary circumstances or the requirements of mandatory detention. David Leopold, former president of the American Immigration Layer’s Association, spoke out against the detainments, arguing that the women did not pose a significant enough risk to merit priority status. He also suggested the use of less severe detainment means, such as ankle bracelets and home monitoring.
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