₦airaland Forum

Canadian officials in Nigeria are working with the U.S. on developing tools to flag Nigerians applying for U.S. visas who may be at “high risk” of crossing illegally into Canada across the U.S. border.


So far this year, the majority of illegal migrants arriving in Canada are Nigerians who have recently been issued U.S. travel visas.

“It is apparent that they obtained those visas with the express intent to actually go to Canada,” said Hursh Jaswal, communications director for Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen.

“They land in the United States, where they stay for a very short period of time, and then make their way to Canada.”

That’s why Canada is now working with its American counterparts to try to stop Nigerian travelers to the United States from using their U.S. visas as a ticket to Canada – a practice Jaswal calls an “abuse of U.S. visas for the purpose of asylum.”

Canadian officials in Nigeria are now working directly with their U.S. counterparts to develop assessment indicators that would flag cases “deemed to be high risk,” Jaswal said.

Last year, the majority of irregular migrants who arrived in Canada were Haitian, which was largely attributed to the Trump administration’s decision to lift the temporary protected status for immigrants from Haiti living in the U.S.

This year’s shift toward Nigerians is not surprising to Kehinde Olalere, a Canadian immigration lawyer who grew up in Nigeria and regularly travels to the country.

Nigerians fleeing the violence of Boko Haram and other systemic persecutions in Nigeria find it marginally easier to obtain travel visas from the U.S. compared to Canada. But many see the United States as merely a transit point on the way to Canada, Olalere said.

“The U.S.A. is not an attractive place to most Nigerians right now. It used to be the most attractive place, but with the Trump factor – the old-style immigration climate in the U.S. compared to Canada – most people are going to find their way to Canada.”

Jean-Nicolas Beuze, president of the United Nations high commissioner for refugees in Canada, disagreed with the “Trump factor” theory, saying he believes the influx of Nigerian refugee claimants is more closely related to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s more welcoming messaging about immigrants.

Many Nigerians face persecution for their sexual orientation and women face high rates of domestic violence from their partners, as well as the threat of genital mutilation. Canada’s more progressive laws and attitudes towards these populations make it a more desirable place to live, Beuze said.

“They think that Canada will be a country where they will receive asylum and where they feel they will be able to integrate and resume a normal life, far away from persecution.”

Individuals and families fleeing from the violence and oppression of Nigeria are well versed in Canada’s immigration laws and have likely seen the statistics showing Nigerian refugee claimants have a 35 percent success rate in having their claims accepted, Olalere said.

That’s why he believes the flow of migrants from Nigeria may not soon be over. “I don’t see this ending any time soon.”

Meanwhile, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said Monday work is ongoing to improve screening processes for American visas, keeping in mind a need to balance safety and protection concerns with legitimate travel and immigration to the United States.

However, no changes have yet been made to the U.S. visa application process.

The Canadian Press

scarramenga:
nah I love showing them off they are hot

scarramenga:
lol just talk say you wan see my mama and sister pinshure so you go fit w@nk to am, oya take knock yourself out

Ishilove:
I refuse to accept this. He has always been very strong and only weakened after he lost his teeth.

ojdollars:
@troublemakea.. Can you tell us what was the Crime Senator Dino Melaye committed? Do you have proof? Has he been convicted? Do you follow international politics or are you pronouncing a guilty verdict on Dino base on your third world political mentality operations? How can you pronounced a serving Senator of this Federal Republic a Criminal without no legal evidence admissible in a law court? I'm all ears brother man.

johnnyvid:
so who are you preferring now. as it stand, Dino melaye has been treated badly in Apc. Infact he ought to have announced his resignation letter from Apc party. the truth of the matter is that Apc doesn't want Dino melaye no more. Dino melaye should contest against Yahaya Bello in the next year governorship election. the best thing Dino melaye should do is to decamp back to pdp and contest for the next governorship election. so far so good, Okun people from kogi west senatorial zone has never produced any governor since the creation of kogi state. this is very bad. I think there's a particular woman too that's eyeing the post of Dino melaye in kogi west senatorial zone. smart Adeyemi has served the Senate for two terms. I don't even expect him to contest again. Dino melaye should contest against Yahaya Bello in the next year governorship election.

IamD18:
You had to indulge his mum and sisters because of Chioma that gives no fvck about your existence.

This level of Ass-licking is massively legendary.


*Spit*

Unlimited22:
He will lose the economic war with China.

donb06:
if u knw how many countries are looking for their downfall then u will understand why they suspect everything.

flexyrule:
America - What a selfish country!!
They want to produce and own Nuclear weapons, yet they don't allow other countries to.
They spy on whoever they want to, yet they don't want to be spied.
They want us to buy helicopters and military gadgets from them and still sell their Agricultural produce to us - despite the fact that we are supposed to be exporting to them.

I know someone somewhere employed by the CIA or NSA is there reading and watching all what we post and discuss here on nairaland. Just like they spy on call logs, SMSes and conversations of world leaders.
What a country!!!

forreelinc:
broke ass na 10 year old model you wan buy
when your junior dey buy porsche for e P*nis garage

Evablizin:
See this one,show me your teeth.

Phillian212:
you have a point.
This is an SOS message going to our brothers in d west. please lets join hands together and Liberate Nigeria

BankeSmalls:
What is happening, is that you are getting poorer, and wailing to high heavens about it..

Phillian212:
with that mentality that our votes doesnt count is just another mindset that has kept Nigerian youths to the shackles of political apathy. its high time we drop such mindset and come all out. we have the population. its our time!

Phillian212:
with that mentality that our votes doesnt count is just another mindset that has kept Nigerian youths to the shackles of political apathy. its high time we drop such mindset and come all out. we have the population. its our time!

Phillian212:
this is how president Buhari will dance if APC wins 2019 election, however let all Nigerian youths arise and for once lets refuse to be bullied by politicians who have no plan than to call us lazy Nigerian youths. Lets be fully armed with our PVCs
ITS TIME TO CHANGE THE CHANGE!

Promiseisaac:
just imagine if someone was at the back of the car maybe his wife or kids, this how someone's life would have been wasted

Observer225:
The truck head alone is worth over 45million naira, and d owner of the truck i suppose would be able to foot the bills for the repair. To own a truck nor be beans.

pyyxxaro:
Make there go check Naomi Campbell house
I overheard her promising him crazy sex when next he visits US

I perceive they are together
She fit don fuuukc am turn cripple





Naomi release Aisha's husband please