International Law

ELF '...Rebels Not Welcome' in Canada

By immlawyer

National Post article, Monday June 9, 2008, indicates that members (or former members) of the Eritrean rebel group ELF have been determined 'inadmissible' to Canada by the CBSA. CBSA's actions have been challenged, apparently unsuccessfully in the case of Shewainesch Tsegai Ugbazghi, who successfully claimed refugee status in Canada in 2003, but has been denied landing as a permanent resident because of her past ties with the group.

The inadmissibility provisions in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act can be found at sections 33-43.

In this particular case, the relevant provision is s.34(1).

Personal involvement in violence is essentially irrelevant and is within the broad ambit of this section.

I have dealt with a similar inadmissibility scenario - but for a (former) member of the MQM - a 'political' group in Pakistan accused of 'engaging in terrorism'.

Full post as published by Canadian Immigration Blawg on June 10, 2008 (boomark / email).