Relating to the
Agreement between the Government of Canada and
the Government of the United States of America
for Cooperation in the Examination of Refugee Status Claims
from Nationals of Third Countries
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the draft implementing regulations ("Regulations") related to the proposed Agreement between Canada and the United States of America for Cooperation in the Examination of Refugee Status Claims from National of Third Countries (“Agreement”).
The underlying objective of this Agreement, to ensure the appropriate allocation of State responsibility for determining refugee status, is shared by UNHCR. It is important to avoid situations where responsibilities for asylum applications are unclear and/or not assumed, with a corresponding risk of refoulement of refugees. UNHCR's main interest is to ensure that persons seeking protection from persecution will have access to a full and fair procedure to assess their claims, whether in Canada or in the United States, and that protection will be accorded to those who need it.
At the same time, UNHCR Executive Committee Conclusion 15 (XXX) provides that the intentions of the asylum seeker should "as far as possible be taken into account". In this connection the Agreement's provisions for family reunification and for the exercise of discretion by the Parties are particularly important.
UNHCR submitted written comments on the draft Agreement in July 2002 and participated in consultations with the Canadian and American authorities. The final text takes certain of UNHCR's comments into account. This in particular concerns the assurance that “chain removals” cannot take place (Article 3), the broadening of the exception for family members of asylum-seekers (Article 4(2)(b)), the undertaking that information-sharing on individual claimants will be done in a way which does not put claimants at risk (Article 7), and the commitment to seek input from non-governmental organizations with regard to the implementation of the Agreement (Article 8). UNHCR appreciates the invitation in Article 8 to participate in monitoring and review of the implementation of the Agreement.
UNHCR believes that the broad statement in the introduction to the Regulations to the effect that UNHCR "….considers that both countries meet their international obligations…." deserves further qualification. In its written comments, UNHCR drew attention to situations in both countries where access to refugee protection could be jeopardized, contrary to international norms. While the draft Regulations address some of these concerns, others remain and are outlined below.
Finally, the impact of the Agreement will depend not only on the Regulations but also on the policy guidance and practical implementation which will follow. UNHCR hopes to receive the relevant CIC policy manuals for comment, before they are finalized.
1. APPLICATION OF EXPEDITED REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS AND DETENTION
OF ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THE U.S.
Asylum-seekers returned to the U.S. under the Agreement and section
101(1)(e) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) may be placed
in "expedited removal" proceedings. Under current U.S. law, expedited removal
proceedings, including mandatory detention, apply to “arriving aliens”
with fraudulent or no travel documents. UNHCR has expressed concern about
how this process functions, and about the need for greater procedural guarantees
to ensure that bona fide refugees are not removed to a country of feared
persecution (refoulement), and are treated in a humane manner while their
applications are being considered. While U.S. government officials have
stated that they expect that most persons returned from Canada would not
be subject to expedited removal, this has not yet been confirmed, as the
corresponding U.S. Regulations have not yet been issued. In addition,
UNHCR has frequently set out its views regarding the common U.S. practice
of detaining asylum-seekers, often in state or county jails.
Recommendation 1: UNHCR recommends that Canada create an exception in the Regulations for asylum-seekers who may be placed in expedited removal proceedings in the U.S. and/or subject to detention contrary to international norms.
2. STATUTORY BARS TO REFUGEE PROTECTION
UNHCR has questioned the consistency with international standards of
certain statutory bars to the asylum procedures. Those at issue include
the U.S. bar for failure to meet a filing deadline, and criminal and "affiliation"
bars in both countries which are broad and automatic in nature. Refugee
claimants subject to a U.S. statutory bar that has no equivalent under
Canadian law (s. 101 IRPA) may be returned under the Agreement to the U.S.,
where they would not be eligible for asylum and/or non-refoulement protection.
Under these circumstances, they may well be denied rights which, except
for the operation of this Agreement, would be available to them.
Although under both U.S. and Canadian law, some persons who are ineligible for asylum (or protected person status) may still be eligible for protection from refoulement (through withholding/stay of removal), this is only the case if they satisfy a heightened legal standard. As a result, claimants who satisfy the refugee definition under the 1951 Convention/1967 Protocol, but fail to meet this heightened legal standard, could be subject to refoulement.
Recommendation 2: UNHCR recommends that Canada create an exception in the Regulations for persons who would be ineligible for asylum or non-refoulement protection in the U.S. on grounds inconsistent with the 1951 Convention/1967 Protocol, but not in Canada.
3. FAMILY MEMBERS IN "LAWFUL STATUS" (S. 159.5 REGULATIONS)
"Family Member"
Respect for the principle of family unity should be at the core of
decisions taken under the Agreement. Refugee families are often involuntarily
separated for long periods. UNHCR believes the refugee protection
objectives of both Parties are best served if the Agreement is implemented
in a way which fosters family reunification at the earliest opportunity.
UNHCR appreciates the broad definition of "family member" (s. 159.1 of
the Regulations), and the fact that the exception in Article 4 of the Agreement
also applies to persons whose family members in Canada have refugee claims
pending before the Immigration and Refugee Board (s. 159(c) of the Regulations).
UNHCR urges that reference be made in the Regulations to de facto family members as well. Many refugees have lost their own family members and have been taken in by or become dependent on others, with whom they developed emotional and material ties. At a minimum, a provision should be included in the Regulations to allow an officer the discretion to permit a refugee claimant with a de facto family member in Canada to enter to have his or her claim heard.
Recommendation 3: UNHCR recommends that the Regulations include an exception for claimants with de facto family members in Canada who serve or have served as their primary support mechanism.
"Lawful Status"
The Agreement permits exceptions for claimants who have a family member
with "lawful status” in Canada. Section 159.5 of the Regulations
enumerates these as: citizens, permanent residents, persons
whose claim for refugee protection has been accepted (s. 95 IRPA), and
adult refugee protection claimants (s. 99 IRPA).
However, the wording in subsection 159.5(b) is not entirely clear. The reference to a person with “a claim for refugee protection that has been accepted under the Act” leaves doubt as to whether this includes a person on whom protection has been conferred following a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA).
Recommendation 4: UNHCR recommends that the wording “a refugee claim that has been accepted under the Act” in section 159.5(b) Regulations be changed to “and is a protected person under the Act”.
UNHCR also believes that the interpretation of “lawful status” reflected in the Regulations should be extended to four other categories of persons lawfully staying in Canada, namely: (1) those who benefit from an indeterminate stay of removal because of a generalized risk to the entire civilian population in their country of origin (s. 230 IRPA Regulations); (2) those who benefit from an indeterminate stay of removal because they have been found by CIC to be at individual risk (s.112 & s.114 IRPA); (3) those who have received approval in principle from CIC to remain in Canada for humanitarian and compassionate reasons (s. 233 IRPA Regulations); and (4) resettled refugees who enter on a temporary resident permit and are not yet permanent residents. This is explained below.
Stay of removal because of generalized risk in the country of origin
("Moratoria countries")
Although this status is not permanent, it is lawful and is related
to instability in the country of origin. Experience has shown that these
stays often remain in effect for many years. Beneficiaries are allowed
to work and are expected to integrate into their host community.
S. 159.6(c) of the Regulations creates an exception for all nationals of
these « moratoria » countries, allowing them to enter Canada
and have their claims heard. However, the family members of these
persons do not necessarily have the same citizenship. In such cases, they
would be prevented from entering Canada and having their claims determined.
Recommendation 5: UNHCR recommends that section 159.5 of the Regulations be amended to interpret « lawful status » as including a stay of removal under section 230 IRPA Regulations, because of generalized risk to the entire civilian population in the country of origin.
Stay of removal because of individual risk and need for protection
Persons who were found ineligible for refugee protection but benefit
from a stay of removal under subsection 112(3) and section 114 IRPA have
been determined to be in need of protection. They are granted permission
to remain in Canada for an indeterminate period of time because they are
at risk of torture, cruel and unusual treatment or punishment or their
life is at risk (s. 97 IRPA). Due to the nature of this risk, the
stay of removal is likely to remain in effect for an extended period, during
which the individual has the opportunity to work, integrate and where relevant,
demonstrate rehabilitation. In such circumstances, a family member
should be permitted to enter and to have his or her claim determined in
Canada.
Recommendation 6: UNHCR recommends that section 159.5 of the Regulations be amended to include persons allowed to remain because of individual risk and need for protection.
Stay of removal for humanitarian and compassionate reasons and resettled
refugees who enter with a "temporary resident permit"
CIC may permit any individual to remain in Canada if it considers there
are humanitarian and compassionate reasons to do so. In practice,
an assessment of the humanitarian and compassionate grounds is made in
the first stage of processing and applications are either rejected or “approved
in principle”. Final approval is subject to criminal, medical and security
checks, and twelve or more months may pass before permanent residence is
granted. Section 233 IRPA Regulations allows these individuals to
remain in Canada until processing is complete. UNHCR believes there
is little interest in preventing a claimant whose family member benefits
from this stay of removal from having his or her claim determined in Canada.
Similarly, a small number of refugees who are resettled on an urgent basis
to Canada enter with a "temporary resident permit" (section 24 IRPA), and
are subsequently landed. Relatives of these refugees should also be permitted
to enter Canada to have protection claims determined, even if their family
members in Canada are not yet landed.
Recommendation 7: UNHCR recommends that section 159.5 of the Regulations be amended to interpret « lawful status » as including: (a) persons who benefit from a stay of removal under section 233 IRPA Regulations, for humanitarian and compassionate reasons; and (b) Convention refugees and humanitarian-protected persons who enter Canada with a "temporary resident permit" but are not yet landed.
4. UNACCOMPANIED OR "SEPARATED" CHILDREN
In its July 2002 written comments, UNHCR welcomed the generous exception
for “unaccompanied minors” in Article 4 of the Agreement. At that time,
UNHCR expressed concern about the fact that a child seeking admission at
a Canadian land border would not be admitted to lodge an asylum claim if
he or she had a parent in Canada who did not fall into one of the enumerated
exceptions. Unfortunately, this problem remains unresolved and has been
compounded by section 159.5(d) of the Regulations. This section defines
an unaccompanied child as one who “is not accompanied by a person who has
attained the age of 18 years” -- without any requirement that the accompanying
adult be a parent or relative or a legal or customary guardian of the child.
This could result in a situation where a child is accompanied by an adult
who might exploit the child (for instance, a trafficker) and is therefore
denied entry to Canada. However, there is no requirement for officials
to assess the relationship between the child and the accompanying adult.
This will not help to reduce the risk of exploitation of children.
UNHCR has repeatedly suggested that governments adopt the term “separated” child in preference to “unaccompanied”, in order to convey that the child’s separation from his or her parents or guardians is the crucial element. UNHCR defines a separated child as a person who is under the age of eighteen years and is “separated from both parents and is not being cared for by an adult who by law or custom has the responsibility to do so”. UNHCR suggests adoption of this definition in the Regulations.
It is critical to identify separated children in need of protection
at the earliest opportunity. Interviews at ports of entry to determine
eligibility under the Agreement should ensure that the exceptional protection
provision for “unaccompanied minors” is carefully examined. This
means assessing the relationship between the child and any accompanying
adult to ensure the adult is able and suitable to care for the child. If
this is not the case, the unaccompanied minor exception should apply. Child
welfare specialists should be consulted where necessary to evaluate the
relationship between the child and an accompanying adult. Protection will
be compromised if section 159.5(d)(i) is not amended to stipulate that
the person accompanying the child must be an adult who by law or custom
has the responsibility for looking after the child.
Recommendation 8: UNHCR recommends that subsection 159.5(d)(i)
be amended to read “has not reached the age of 18 and is not accompanied
by a person who has reached the age of 18 and who by law or custom has
the responsibility to look after the child”.
5. ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REVIEW PROCEDURE
UNHCR remains concerned that persons found ineligible to make a refugee
claim in Canada under the Agreement do not have access to an effective
review procedure. Persons found ineligible under 101(1)(e) IRPA are
not entitled to a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) under s. 112 IRPA
-- which in any case is not designed to review eligibility decisions under
the Act. Although in theory claimants may apply to the Federal Court
for leave for judicial review of the ineligibility determination, it is
improbable that claimants who have been sent back to the U.S. (and who
may be in detention) would have access to legal counsel and be able to
prepare the requisite proceedings and affidavits to pursue this course
of action. Judicial review in any event addresses points of law, rather
than the merits of the case.
Recommendation 9: UNHCR recommends that the Regulations be amended to set out a procedure for the administrative review of the merits of eligibility decisions made under subsection 101(1)(e) IRPA.
6. DISCRETION
Section 159.6 of the Regulations sets out only three situations in
which the discretion in Article 6 of the Agreement is applied. As noted
in our comments and during consultations with the Parties, there are other
circumstances where the discretionary provision might need to be invoked.
The absence of any regulatory provision permitting the exercise of discretion
by officers in other circumstances is of concern to UNHCR.
Recommendation 10: UNHCR recommends that s. 159.6 of the Regulations be amended to permit broader application, in individual cases, of the discretionary provision in Article 6 of the Agreement.
UNHCR Ottawa
14 November 2002