Between June and October 2002, three chartered flights deported 310 Pakistanis. These were only the most dramatic deportations; other deportations occur regularly. As if Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raids, detentions and deportations were not enough, now the registration law has raised Pakistani anxiety levels to new heights.
Before September 11th, many undocumented Pakistanis acquired Canadian residency to be able to take trips back to Pakistan through Canada. To maintain their residency, they would spend a few days in Canada a year. The rest of the time they lived and worked in the United States. However, since the authorities announced the registration law and that Pakistanis must register, many Pakistanis fled for the Canadian border through Plattsburgh, Buffalo, and Niagara, N.Y. A rumor that Canada would close its borders to Pakistanis in 2003 prompted many to cross the border by Dec. 31. Between Dec. 27 and 31, 235 of the 240 refugee claimants at the Plattsburgh border were Pakistanis. At Niagara, 75 of the 80 claimants were Pakistani.
It is obvious that many of these families fled to Canada without adequate resources or planning. Though all refugee claimants are allowed entry into Canada, they are required to appear before a judge at a later date. Most Pakistanis gave similar reasons for seeking asylum. They claim the FBI is harassing them, and that they fear the United States will deport them and that they will be persecuted once deported. Canadian judges are aware that Pakistanis do not want to be deported to Pakistan for economic reasons. Therefore, Pakistanis claiming political persecution will have a hard time proving it to the judge.
According to a Canadian lawyer familiar with trends in refugee cases, only 20 percent of refugee claims made by Pakistanis are successful. It used to be true that families applying for refugee status were promptly granted it, but now entire families are being rejected. Canadian judges are insisting that they only want to grant refugee status to "real" refugees. Pakistanis arriving from the United States are asked about the basis for their claims of political persecution when the Pakistani government allows elections and political parties. Canadian authorities are also promptly referring Pakistani documents to the Canadian embassy in Islamabad for verification. Canadian authorities also reserve the right to send any Pakistani back to the U.S. border authorities for clearance to leave the country.
Pakistanis who have lived in the United States for a decade or more face a conundrum. They are the ones who are more set in the North American way of life and thus would find life back in Pakistan difficult, yet they will have the hardest time proving to a Canadian judge that they will face political persecution in Pakistan (Why will they, after so many years?, the judge is sure to ask.)
Many Pakistani families file identical refugee claims. Often such cases are put on hold. Consequently, their landing papers take far longer to be processed.
