France, Canada enacts Haiti immigration changes

Yesterday we mentioned how the U.S. temporarily suspended the deportations of Haitian migrants in light of Tuesday’s earthquake. At least two other industrialized nations have also enacted immigration changes of their own.

French officials have also placed a hold on deportations to Haiti in light of the tremors. According to a statement from French immigration minister Eric Besson, his country will only temporarily permit “earthquake victims who need medical assistance into the country.” (One estimate claimed that at least 38,000 Haitians have been repatriated “over the last couple of years.”)

In Canada, meanwhile, authorities have been examining whether to relax immigration measures for Haitian migrants. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that options to “fast-tracking” Haitians into Canada could include waiving fees and making it easy for families to reunify. According to one analyst, however, those options would be insufficient compared to a more in-depth system reform:

But simply speeding up the application process does not necessarily mean more Haitians will qualify to come to Canada, warned Audrey Macklin, law professor at the University of Toronto.

"Our immigration system makes it extremely difficult for people to come from poor countries," she said. "You're up against a whole bureaucracy set up to prevent them from coming."

In order to make sure Haitians benefit from the changes Ottawa makes, officials should also relax their demands for proof of family ties and good health, she said, especially if the applicants have links to Canadians who have said they will take care of them.

Image- Canadian Press
Online Sources- Canadian Press, AFP, The Latin Americanist, Huffington Post