Toronto Star Message Board: Here Are Some Canadians Racist Comments About The Immigration System & The Refugee Daniel Garcia.
visa now required
Up until recently, Mexicans could get on a flight, land in Toronto, without any documentation, and request a visitor visa at the airport, or claim refugee status. As a result, Mexicans abused the refugee system, their numbers of applications were rampant. Now, there’s a visa for entry, finally. They have to be preapproved before they travel here now. Mexico is not the best country in the world, but that doesn’t designate every Mexican as a potential refugee.
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No one is illegal? Honestly?
There are billions across the world who could have equal if not more valid a reason then this fellow to claim refugee status in Canada. Should we allow it? Currently 8% of the Canadian population is unemployed. The middle class is all but dissappearing. Here’s a solution, why not actual Mexicans standing up for the rights of this individual? How can a country ever progress if its people keep abandoning it, instead of sticking around to try and make it a better place for all? Canada cannot house all of the world’s “victims”. These victims should stay home and work to publicly voice their plight for support from their fellow man in their own countries.
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How is it that he fears for his life because of his sexual orientation and yet his girlfriend fears that she’ll never see him again if he’s deported? No wonder his refugee claim was denied…
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@theleg – Mexico’s Reality
Why should Canadian Immigration start looking at the reality of Mexico. It’s not the only country that suffers from despair. If we keep accepting refugees than we will get a flood of people claiming outlandish reasons for running from their country. As moss67 states, Mexico is a huge country and I find it hard to believe that they could not just move to another city.
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If the refuge board says …
that there is no basis for a claim that is good enough for me – he can apply again to enter our country. Many people make up all kinds of situations to gain access to our country. I met one such Mexican who was turned down and he is still here – he works under the table, making at least $100/day and collects social assistance as well. Yes this is a student but again if the refugee board says no we have to draw the line somewhere – he can always reapply when he is back in his own country.
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@Lokie
“…get out and protest for the rights of real Canadians, our homeless, our mentall ill.” Many of us do just that…didn’t you see us, or where you home watching us on TV? Many of us also make donations to those causes. Do YOU?? I do! I live on pensions, but I have never forgotten what it’s like to be poor, much poorer, and donate to causes that help the downtrodden! You know, the people who are sneered at, wished to be somewhere else…for not being like you?
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Inhumane commentaries
I cannot believe there is people who do not show compassion about the fate of this young man. I believe many of the stern commentaries arise out of ignorance. Mexico is now a dangerous country, and if criminals want to find you, they can do it. And for you Lokie: I am really happy the young people protesting do not think like you. Of course, they will protest for the rights of Canadians. There are persons who really need to get enlightened.
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Rules Are Rules…
You need to come into this country the legal way.
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Would you smugly ethnocentric types
try educating yourselves about other countries! MEXICO IS NOT CANADA. IT IS NOT A SAFE PLACE TO BE FEMALE AND IT IS NOT A SAFE PLACE TO BE DIFFERENT (AS IN GAY). How many deaths will it take before a right-wing government and its wilfully ignorant supporters will realize that sending people back to Mexico because “they’ll be safe” without taking the ACTUAL conditions into account is verging on being accessory to murder! And since apparently none of you got it – the boy was acing his education and would undoubtedly be an asset to his adopted country – IF we allow him to!
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@HAMMERHEAD
You wrote: “PROVE IT….I THINK ALL THESES WILD STORIES SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION…” Hammerhead…how about YOU prove that you actually have compassion for anyone other than yourself!! Make yourself knowledgeable about other countries. Mexico is not the only country in the world that discriminate against, and kill, gay and lesbian people! Many are in hiding for many months or years, until they can safely come to Canada! If I had the money and space, I’d take them all in! I’ve friends, and have had co-morkers who are gay and lesbians… and believe me, they all look like human beings! And they all have compassion for other people, whether straight or gay! You might want to remember that, when one day YOU will need someone’s help/compassion!
If he is here illegally…..
send him back! We have far too many illegals here in Canada already. Too bad for him and the rest of the illegals, no matter where they’re from! Get rid of them! We have too many immigrants already and they are overburdening our welfare system!
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Ive worked with Mexican Refugees
I dont know this case so I cannot comment but after having worked with Mexican Refugees where 9 out of 10 all lied and claimed to be gay and were being threatened the story becomes unbelievable after hearing the same one over and over. People need to realized that most of the “refugees” from Mexico are from very poor areas are considered economic refugees but that wont win ur case. The bottom line is that THERE IS a thriving gay community in Mexico and he will be safe there, hence, he will most likely lose his case. I have several gay friends living in Mexico and it IS safe to do so in the right area.. Thats why he will lose
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Something’s wrong
Canada wants to deport people trying to make it better, but wants to “import” terrorists like Khadr! Does that make any sense???
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Have a nice trip back to Mexico
If yiou want to come back, try the immigration process.
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Their Stories Do Not Add-Up
Mexico City Allows Gay Marriage, the Mayor of Mexico City was recently elected the best Mayor on the Planet for 2010, for his efforts in reducing crime, police corruption, cutting pollution, public transit & gay marriage. Despite the Drug Wars in Mexico’s Northern States Mexico City is relatively unaffected. Deport them and let them apply for permanent residency status like every other person that is not a genuine refugee.
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Canada Refugee Haven
While I am sympathetic to refugees looking for a safe place in which to live, I am tired of stories of arriving here illegally or “jumping the cue” (as the Sri Lankan refugees who arrived by boat earlier this year). If you want to live in Canada, follow the proper procedures. Don’t come here illegally and then play the sympathy card when you get caught.
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Entry
Entry to Canada is either legal or illegal. Legitimate Immigrants and Refugees are always welcome. Those that choose to come in by breaking the rules have to understand that they could be sent back if their claim is not substantiated. Apparently the girl friend is in the same boat since she doesn’t want to be named due to her status. Too bad for them.
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c’mon
“violence followed them?”. Yeah right. Highly doubtful. If you live in a small town here with small town attitudes you move to the city or to an area that is more tolerant. We are talking about Mexico not Afghanistan. The idea that the only place on earth that they could flee was to Canada is a huge stretch. This sounds more like a case of wanting a better quality of life and the Canadian refugee system is internationally regarded as a joke. To couch the issue in Mexican homophobia is lame at best. Another massive waste of taxpayer dollars.
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There is more to this than meets the eye,,,
YES Mexico is a dangerous country, BUT, they do not hunt down and kill gays. There is a huge gay and lesbian population in Mexico that is not in danger. There’s more here than we are being told. Half truths will not help this family.
Toronto Star Article: Mexican Teenager & His Lesbian Sister Fears For Their Lives If They Are Deported To Mexico.
Teen fears revenge in Mexico
Supporters rally for 18-year-old Toronto student Daniel Garcia, who has been ordered deported to Mexico, outside Eaton Centre on Dec. 26, 2010.
Edward Wong
A Toronto high school student facing deportation back to Mexico says he fears the homophobic outlaws who shot his sister’s partner to death in front of him are now waiting to kill him too.
Daniel Garcia, a Grade 11 student at Parkdale Collegiate Institute, fled from Mexico to Toronto three years ago along with his sister Brenda, who is gay. But their refugee claim failed, and on Thursday evening Garcia, 18, was arrested and taken to a Canada Border Services Agency detention centre, where his sister was already being held.
His supporters say he deserves more time because of the danger he faces in Mexico and legal mishaps that befell his case.
Garcia was living with his sister in Mexico City when threats started to mount against them. On his 12th birthday, he says a group of teenagers hurled homophobic insults against him before attacking and assaulting him.
Two years later, he was sleeping over at a friend’s house with his sister and her partner after a party when somebody fired shots into the room where they were staying.
“I saw blood on my hands,” Garcia recalled in a telephone interview from the detention centre Sunday. His sister’s partner had been hit in the neck; she died en route to hospital, he says.
They moved to different areas of Mexico, but violence followed and they said their reports to police had no effect. The final straw was when a van chased the two in their car at high-speed; Brenda Garcia, 30, says shots were fired, but they managed to escape and went into hiding. A week later, they flew to Canada.
Garcia started at Parkdale Collegiate, where his sister says he thrived, despite arriving speaking no English. Hillel Heinstein, an English and ESL teacher at the school, describes him as a “fantastic student.”
“He takes his education very seriously,” Heinstein said. “He’s really attempting to seize the opportunity here in Canada putting the maximum effort into his classes.”
Heinstein added, “We fear for his safety if he goes back.”
The family’s refugee application was denied last December. According to the Garcias, the judge at their refugee hearing didn’t believe Brenda Garcia’s claim of persecution.
Immigration lawyer Max Berger says he has represented half-a-dozen clients with stories of fleeing Mexico because of persecution for sexual orientation. But he adds that only around 10 per cent of Mexico refugee claims are successful, and claims based on sexual orientation are particularly challenging.
“Often gay and lesbian claims will be refused on the basis that there is sufficient tolerance to live in Mexico City,” where Canadian officials have determined that there is a gay community, Berger says.
Brenda Garcia, who also spoke to the Star from the detention centre, says she has never had contact with any gay community in Mexico City. She said lesbians face much more difficult circumstances than gay men in her country.
Before the pair had a chance to file an appeal, their immigration lawyer suddenly died, the Garcias said. They said they were unable to find new representation because they didn’t have enough money and the case was so advanced.
Garcia, then 17, filled out an appeal known as a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment as best he could with help from the public library. He says he never received a response.
But when he was stopped Thursday by police in Parkdale who claimed shots had been fired in the area and was asked to show his student ID, the officers said there was an immigration warrant for him. Garcia discovered the appeal had been denied.
When Garcia spoke with relatives in Mexico City, they told him word had spread the pair were returning.
“Some people are saying they are going to kill us,” Garcia said. “This time they are not going to give us a choice. They are going to persecute us and wherever we go, we are dead.”
Garcia’s sister’s appeal was denied too, and she was taken to the immigration detention centre on Dec. 15. Her deportation flight leaves early Monday morning.
Garcia has not yet received a date for his deportation, but fears it could come at any time.
Former Parkdale-High Park MP Peggy Nash, who spoke with Garcia and attended a rally for him on Sunday, said his supporters are simply asking for time.
“He hasn’t really had a fair process here. They’re just trying to buy a little time to allow him to make a fair case for himself.”
Several dozen of Garcia’s classmates and other supporters attended the rally at the Eaton Centre, organized by the immigration rights group No One is Illegal, to try to draw attention to the case.
“He needs time to be represented. There needs to be a delay,” said Roger Langen, human rights committee liaison for the Toronto Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation.
Gayblackcanada 