International Law

Crime, Drugs and Scams behind Spike in Mexican Refugee Claims

By immlawyer

The deteriorating conditions in Mexico are plain for all to see.

President Calderon indicates that the future of democracy is at stake in its struggle against corruption and organized crime. New York Times article here.

A National Post article indicates that almost 5000 Mexican refugee claims were referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board, Refugee Protection Division in the first third of this year.

Attributing the spike to both drug violence and 'scams' the article does refer to Rusty Fleming who produced a documentary on the current situation in Mexico.

The situation is not so clear cut as the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration sees it. The deteriorating law and order situation in Mexico calls into question whether the state can adequately protect its citizens. This inability to protect then brings in the issue of international 'surrogate' protection. Given the current objective evidence available, it is a specious argument that most Mexican refugee claims are manifestly unfounded.

Full post as published by Canadian Immigration Blawg on June 25, 2009 (boomark / email).