Refugee lawyers lament decision to suspend asylum at Canada-U.S. border for COVID-19 containment
Expressing deep concern for the refugees who may be endangered, CARL said that the policy was unjustified, given that an earlier plan announced by the federal government could have protected not only public health in the country but also the refugees’ interests by providing them safe housing and quarantine.
“We simply did not have to choose between tackling the pandemic and upholding human rights: we can and should do both,” said CARL in the press release[1], which cited important provisions of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ publication titled “Key Legal Considerations on access to territory for persons in need of international protection in the context of the COVID-19 response.[2]”
In the alternative, if the measure is not reconsidered, CARL called for the federal government to see to it that the persons rejected at the border will not end up in immigration detention centres or back in their country of persecution. CARL also called for the government’s commitment to enable these affected persons to return to the border and to seek refugee protection in Canada without prejudice, once the COVID-19 crisis is finally resolved.
On Mar. 29, an update said temporary foreign workers, some international students and approved permanent residents who haven’t yet landed are now able to enter Canada.
References
- ^ said CARL in the press release (www.carl-acaadr.ca)
- ^ Key Legal Considerations on access to territory for persons in need of international protection in the context of the COVID-19 response. (www.refworld.org)
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