Canada Launches Investigation into Case of 2,500 Temporarily Missing Visitor Visas
Canada’s Foreign Affairs is investigating the six-week disappearance of 2,500 blank visitor visas believed to have been in transit with the country’s diplomatic mail service last year. Mounties are trying to determine that the visas were intercepted by suspected terrorists during transit and returned after being counterfeited, and whether any counterfeit visas were used by terrorists to enter Canada prior to September 11th. According to an immigration department report, a box containing the blank “A” series visa disappeared on its way from Ottawa to missions abroad. The visas allow visitors to enter Canada for up to six months. According to a foreign affairs spokesman, diplomatic mail bags are strictly monitored; before a bag is sent, an inventory is taken of its contents. The bag remains sealed while in transit, is handled by bonded couriers, and diplomats must pick up the bags in person and sign for their release.
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Spain and Italy Consider Tougher Immigration Laws
The latest European country to tackle the contentious issue of illegal immigration, Spain officials said Wednesday they were considering toughening asylum conditions and making it harder for foreigners to enter the country. Interior Minister Mariano Rajoy said Spain intends to stiffen jail sentences for people smugglers and to tighten the conditions for granting asylum, bringing the country in line with EU directives. Meanwhile, the Italian Parliament approved legislation Wednesday that will require immigrants to show proof of employment, limit their stay to the duration of work contracts, and make it easier to expel them for breaking the law. The bill also requires children to be under the age of 18 in order to join their immigrant parents in the country. The bill was passed 293 to 279 after a stormy debate. With these developments, Spain and Italy join Britain and Denmark in announcing stricter plans or passing new legislation to combat illegal immigration in recent weeks.
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Japan to Send Immigration Officers to Two Consulates in China
A government source said Japan plans to send immigration officials to its consulates general in Shenyang and Guangzhou, in reaction to the May 8 episode in which five North Korean asylum seekers were allowed to be seized by Chinese police officers at the Shenyang consulate. The five asylum seekers eventually reached South Korea. The source said the absence of immigration personnel at the Consulate in Shenyang was partly to blame for the diplomatic fiasco, and that they would meet with Japanese diplomats there on ways to screen potential refugees.
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