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Keep Criminals Out - Wednesday, July 23, 2003 at 10:12

PUBLICATION:  Montreal Gazette
DATE:  2003.07.17
EDITION:  Final
SECTION:  Editorial / Op-ed
PAGE:  A26
SOURCE:  The Gazette

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Keep Criminals Out
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There's something alarmingly wrong with an immigration system that lets accused war criminals run free. Under Canada's immigration procedures, immigrants - including refugee claimants - found to fit the classification of war criminals are subject to deportation, which is as it should be. But between determination and deportation, there are abundant bureaucratic and legal hoops to be jumped through. So fingered war criminals are allowed to roam free, with orders to report to their nearest immigration office when the deportation order comes through.

Not surprisingly, a lot of them don't bother to show up. A report this week said immigration authorities have lost track of 59 people wanted for war crimes, from 24 countries. They are at large in Canada, if they haven't gone elsewhere. Along with crimes against humanity, many face charges in other jurisdictions for theft, drug smuggling and arms trafficking.

One reason for this situation is the abundance of red tape involved in deporting even the most egregious persona non grata who manages to set foot on Canadian soil. Another is the Privacy Act, which forbids publication of the names and photos of the missing migrants in the war-criminal class, which precludes public assistance in turning them in.

The law should be changed. Every immigrant identified as facing a credible war-crimes charge should be detained until deportation can be arranged.