Posted on 03/30/2006 7:56:18 AM PST by aCDNinUSA
Thousands are sent back to Portugal
BETWEEN 15,000 and 22,000 Portuguese illegal immigrants could be deported from Canada. An unprecedented operation has started to expatriate all the illegal immigrants working in the country.
In February, the Ambassador to the country, João Silveira de Carvalho, received an official communication from the Immigration Ministry saying that all Portuguese working in Canada without a permit would be ordered to return immediately to their country.
The first Portuguese families have been put on aeroplanes and forced to leave. Some of the families had been living in Canada for several years and many had already bought houses there. They were given only a few days’ notice to make preparations, pack their bags, and get rid of possessions they couldn't take on the flight to Lisbon. A large number of the group being deported went to Canada to meet the demands of a booming construction industry, particularly in Toronto. Estimates state that about 75 per cent of the workers are in the country illegally.
"If you have bought a new home or a new condo, you know that the waiting times for getting a place just keep on getting longer and longer," Pedro Barata of the Portuguese National Congress said. "I think that the more we deport people who are needed in the construction industry, the longer those waits are going to be."
Some estimates say that 15,000 people are working illegally in Ontario's construction and hospitality industries, and the Canada-wide figure is 300,000. Immigration sources said there will not be an amnesty. The federal agency said they have a legal duty to remove people who have come to the country without following the proper procedures.
Many in the group deported say they will try to return to Canada and resume the lives they have built. Portuguese Foreign Minister, Diogo Freitas do Amaral, has announced that he will travel to Canada this week for discussions with the Ottawa authorities.
In a statement, Freitas do Amaral said he had decided to travel to Canada to discuss ‘the sudden change in policy by the authorities in relation to Portuguese nationals living and working there without visas’. The Portuguese authorities announced earlier that a reception centre is being set up at Lisbon Airport to give support to nationals arriving from Canada.
I would also prefer that the government allow these immigrants to stay in Canada, especially given the fact that they are European as they tend to assimilate better than those that come from third world countries. That said, they did not go through the proper channels to become legitimate immigrants.
How would you feel if you spent big dollars for the opportunity to take your family to go watch the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Montreal Canadians only to find a bunch of strangers with standing only tickets sitting in your front row seats?
There is no such thing as a "Front of the line pass" to reduce your line-up time when it comes to immigration.
You know, son, you really should emigrate (legally) to the United States. There is a job waiting for you on the staff of Senator McCain.
What kind of non-sense comment is that? Why should the white europeans go first? Why are you so scared of the typical left-wing "racism" remark. They should not start with any one ethnicity, if they're going to do it they send everyone without discriminating.
Well said... I'd say because like the United States, Canada chooses to pick on the wrong people. God forbid Canada or the US pick on the chosen Arab people....
That'll never happen. Canada will NEVER mass deport Muslims, why? Because Canadians are terrified of Muslims. They'll only deport non-muslim Europeans and maybe latin americans. God forbid they offend arabs.
You mean "Madeira", spelling please.
Agree, Canada is leading the way to another WTC, except this time they're encouraging it. Canada, how many Christian Portuguese flew planes into your buildings Canada? Canada is a pussy country...
I looked it up, Madera is an acceptable spelling.
On top of that, I have an old hat my grandma gave me that has Madera on it.
I think the difference is how Americans spell European places such as Florence for Firenze, Rome for Roma.
As I recall, most of the Portuguese in Canada are from the Azores, usually Terceira. Do you have many Portuguese from the mainland?
I was at Lajes Field from 76 to 78 (Naval Air Facility).
"If you have bought a new home or a new condo, you know that the waiting times for getting a place just keep on getting longer and longer," Pedro Barata of the Portuguese National Congress said. "I think that the more we deport people who are needed in the construction industry, the longer those waits are going to be."
Deportation of illegals should alleviate the shortage
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