Two-thirds of Afghan interpreter refugee claims denied
According to this article over at the CBC where your’s truly is quoted, Canada is rejecting most of the refugee claims filed by Afghan interpreters.
In 2009, the program that intended to help out Afghan interpreters who provided a vital service to Canadian soldiers was announced by Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.
In order to qualify to come to Canada, Afghan interpreters had to prove their work with Canada placed them in danger. The majority of Afghan interpreters had to deal with threats, kidnappings and even the risk of being killed for their work – or just by being in a war zone, as at least six were killed by improvised explosive devices.
Strict timeframes and other regulations have turned a seemingly helpful and rewarding program into one that is failing those who risked their lives for Canadian soldiers by creating enough loopholes to deny most of the refugee claims.
Refugee claims for Afghan interpreters being denied is a “double-harm”
I was quoted in the article, saying the program is a “disgrace and embarrassment to Canada” and that, “not only are legitimate Afghan refugee claims being denied, here we have a program that lures desperate Afghans into service and sacrifice for Canada and then ‘thanks’ them by refusing their claims for protection. This brings our immigration and refugee program to an all time low.”
Sad. Really.
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