Displacement and Transition Risks

The refugee journey from a place of danger to a place of safety involves a series of transitions. At each stage of the displacement cycle individuals become defined by legal-bureaucratic and descriptive labels that may include an ‘internally displaced person (IDP)’, an ‘asylum seeker’, a ‘refugee claimant’, a ‘registered refugee’, a ‘prioritised or deprioritised “resettlement case”’, a ‘rejected asylum seeker’, or a ‘returnee’

The ripple effects of US immigration policy on refugee children: A Canadian perspective

Since 2016, an estimated 40,000 individuals have crossed the Canadian/U.S. border, seeking asylum, impacted by changing U.S policies on immigration.3 Some come from countries affected by the U.S. immigration ban, while others come as the result of failed refugee claims, worsening discrimination and immigration enforcement. In this perspective piece, we outline how domestic U.S policy can have rippling effects internationally, focusing on Canada. From direct health impacts from mental health and trauma, to limited access to health care, the impact on housing and employment, and finally the subtle but poignant shift in Canadian values, we argue that the impacts of U.S immigration policy are not only felt domestically, but globally. Finally, we seek to identify ways in which child health advocates and policymakers alike can support the well being of refugee claimant children across both borders

A Lawyer's Perspective on Canadian Refugee Policy

The comments below reflect my own experiences in Metropolitan Toronto and may or may not coincide with the experiences of other lawyers in Toronto or the rest of Canada. Though sorne observations arise from my former position as a refugee co-ordinator for the Canadian Section (Anglophone) of Amnesty International, any opinions expressed in this article are personal to me and may or may not be the official position of Amnesty International

Professional perspectives: The educational experiences of Mexican refugee claimant children in Montreal

This thesis is based on the schooling experiences of Mexican elementary school refugee claimant children in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It gathers perspectives from professionals who support them through the refugee determination process, including three teachers, a social worker, and an immigration lawyer. From an educational standpoint, the research questions examine the adaptation process, the cultural and linguistic barriers affecting students’ schooling experience, and the resources available to teachers. I interviewed participants at their workplace, allowing them to express their experiences of working with Mexican refugee claimant families and their children with specific reference to the children’s schooling experiences and performance in school. The research shows that refugee claimant families are subject to severe amounts of stress due to their traumatic past and uncertain future. This affects all family members; children bring this stress to school, evidently affecting their performance and general involvement at school. All respondents suggest that the children’s academic success depends on the family and the importance the family attaches to education. Teachers also believe that the lack of knowledge of the French language poses roadblocks for these children’s learning. The recommendations stemming from this research include the need to create an umbrella organisation that would provide information directly to teachers regarding this specific population and the importance of Canadian professionals building trustworthy relationships with these families. This timely research can provide information to policymakers, teachers, and other professionals involved with the refugee determination process, and future research, thus contributing to a healthier multicultural Quebec society

“They didn’t treat me as a Gypsy”: Romani Refugees in Toronto

With organized hate crime and institutionalized discrimination, thousands of European Roma have fled to Canada, where they claim refugee status. Their arrival coincided with far-ranging reforms to the refugee determination system in 2012–13 in addition to some actions aimed specifically at the Roma. Against this backdrop, former and current Romani refugee claimants substantiate the experience of migration and settlement, beginning with the first moments after arrival, to the tasks of finding housing and work. Agency and resilience are evinced, despite the government’s multiple instruments used against asylum-seekers. Romani refugees’ lives show how, for transnational groups, belongingness is always contested and the meaning of home is always nuanced.En raison des crimes organisés motivés par la haine et de la discrimination institutionnelle, des milliers de Roms européens ont cherché asile au Canada où ils ont effectué des demandes du statut de réfugié. Leur arrivée a coïncidé avec des réformes de grande ampleur en 2012-13 portant sur le système de détermination du statut de réfugié, ainsi que des mesures visant les Roms particulièrement. C’est dans ce contexte que les anciens ainsi que les actuels demandeurs du statut de réfugié d’origine rom réalisent l’expérience de migration et d’installation, en allant des premiers moments après leur arrivée jusqu’aux démarches qu’ils entreprennent  pour trouver des logements et du travail. Un esprit d’actualisation et de persévérance se manifeste, malgré les multiples mesures imposées par le gouvernement à l’encontre des chercheurs d’asile. L’expérience des réfugiés d’origine rom démontre que, pour les groupes transnationaux, l’appartenance est toujours soumise à la contestation, et que l’idée de domicile est toujours conditionnelle