Introduction
The information found within these three articles demonstrates the poor conditions that Mexican citizens are forced to remain under if they are denied asylum. The articles highlight additional obstacles for vulnerable individuals, such as women and the LGBTQ+ community, found within Canadian legislation that makes it difficult for these individuals to have their asylum claims approved. Most of the sources were published within the last five years, while one source is over a decade old. However, the data used within the articles to defend their source material were from approximately a decade or older. The summaries of these academic works aims to increase the accessibility of knowledge to the public on Canadian refugee determination concerning those seeking asylum from Mexico.
Bhuyan, Rupaleem et al. “Fleeing Domestic Violence from a “Safe” Country?: Refugee Determination for Mexican Asylum-Seekers in Canada.” Refuge , Vol. 32, Issue 3, 2016, pp. 95-107.
This article highlights the challenges of seeking asylum in Canada for Mexican domestic violence victims. Since Mexico is listed as a “safe country of origin” by the Canadian government, meaning the country has a reputable legal and judicial system, so claimants must prove that these institutions have failed them, it is difficult for refugee claims to be accepted (97). However, Mexico has an extremely high femicide rate, and the article states that women are afraid to seek protection from the Mexican state if they are victims of domestic violence (104). While Mexico has legislation in effect to curb violence against women, the implementation of these laws vary by regional and municipal government due, in part, to political corruption (100). Following the Canadian government’s classification of Mexico as a “safe country of origin” in 2012, the number of asylum claims filed by Mexican women considerably dropped (97). As a result, Mexican domestic violence victims remain in dangerous environments.
LaViolette, Nicole. “Independent Human Rights Documentation and Sexual Minorities: an Ongoing Challenge for the Canadian Refugee Determination Process.” The International Journal of Human Rights, vol. 13, no. 2-3, 2009, pp. 437–476.
Nicole LaViolette’s paper “Independent human rights documentation and sexual minorities: an ongoing challenge for the Canadian refugee determination process”, presents how sexual minorities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, are challenged by lacking documentation supporting refugee claims (LaViolette 437). Sexual persecution appears in countries like Mexico, paired with authorities offering inadequate protection. Canadian refugee determination processes are too strict in acceptance of claims. As a response, human rights organizations aid in providing documentation. Human rights organizations work to support refugee claims through compiled research called independent country information (438). As noted by LaViolette’s findings from independent country information, Mexico City has anti-discrimination laws and police task forces against homophobia. However, no proof was shown that authorities enforced the laws (460). LaViolette explains that Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board’s Refugee Protection Division needs exact documentation to prove their persecution (439). This is very hard to come by without the help of information collected by these human rights organizations (439).
Young, Julie EE. “The Mexico-Canada border: extraterritorial border control and the production of ‘economic refugees’.” International Journal of Migration and Border Studies 4.1-2 (2018): pp. 35-50.
The article entitled “ T he Mexico-Canada border: extraterritorial border control and the production of ‘economic refugees’” written by Julie Young, looks into the relationship that Canada and Mexico have with one another in regards to the border control, and policing towards the refugees. Canada has implemented a visa policy in 2009 towards the refugees that come into the country due to the factor of ‘bogus refugee[s]’ (Young 38). Additionally, the economic factor also studies the number of ‘bogus economic refugee[s]’ from Mexico and how it became a major element for the change in Canadian refugee policy (Young 40). Furthermore, “the Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP) has been the main channel for Canadian Security system support to Mexico” (qtd. in Embassy of Canada in Mexico 44). As a result of all of this, Canada and Mexico are in the works together to see the different implications towards safety for the refugees.
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