Canada Forces Washington U-Turn On Vetting

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 11-01-2002 | Suzanne Goldenberg

[blam]

Canada forces Washington u-turn on vetting

Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
Friday November 1, 2002
The Guardian

Canada secured a small victory for neighbourly treatment yesterday with a promise from US immigration authorities that they would no longer require Canadian citizens born in some Middle Eastern states to be fingerprinted and photographed on arrival in the United States. But American officials said that while the rules had been made more flexible, they reserved the right to stop any visitor and fingerprint and photograph them if necessary.

"If a person was born in Tehran and hasn't been there for 30 years, there will probably be no problems," a US official told Reuters. "If they have been in Tehran in the last six months, there will probably be questions."

The easing of the rules follows Canadian protests at the new security regime introduced by Washington on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Visitors from Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Libya and other Muslim states were the targets.

Canada's foreign minister, Bill Graham, accused the US of discriminating against his fellow citizens, and Ottawa advised Canadians to avoid trips south of the border unless absolutely necessary.

"Essentially, we have two groups of citizens now," a spokesman for the Canadian embassy in Washington said before the climbdown. "Some Canadians can come through the border without any problem and other Canadians, who have the unfortunate luck to be born in one of those [Muslim] countries cannot."

Mr Graham later told the parliament in Ottawa that the US ambassador, Paul Cellucci, had informed him that Canadians would no longer be subjected to the rules.

"What is happened is that we have a clear recognition by the United States that the place of birth is not the determining factor as to whether a person is subject to the security measures," he added to reporters.

The Canadian protests were the strongest so far from western countries on behalf of citizens born in one of the countries on America's vetting lists.

The rules had a much greater impact on Canada because of the volume of travel between the two countries, and because its citizens had previously not even needed a passport to visit the US.

Deep anger was voiced in Canada at the treatment of several of its citizens, most notably an Ottawa engineer, Maher Arar, who was born in Syria. He was detained in late September during a transit stop in the US on his way home from a family holiday.

American authorities refused to reveal his whereabouts for days. He was held without access to a lawyer, and deported to Jordan, from where he made his way to Syria, where he was jailed.

[blam]

I sure hope we remember this when the bombing begin is Canada. (SOB'S)

[USNBandit]

Are we still allowed to stop the muslims trying to come to the U.S. in automobiles packed with explosives? I wouldn't want to upset their sensitive nature.

[lizma]

Deep anger was voiced in Canada at the treatment of several of its citizens, most notably an Ottawa engineer, Maher Arar, who was born in Syria. He was detained in late September during a transit stop in the US on his way home from a family holiday. American authorities refused to reveal his whereabouts for days. He was held without access to a lawyer, and deported to Jordan, from where he made his way to Syria, where he was jailed.

Huh? Cryptic article but getting rid of ole Maher sounds like a GOOD thing.

It appears the Canadians are now using the klintoon doctrine. "We will appease you, please don't hurt us."

[RWG]

An American citizen born in this country can be denied entry into canada if 30 0r 40 years ago as a teen he had been conviceted of an offense such as minor in possession. The person denied entry can pay a tribute and be granted entry into canada. Yes they are sobs north of the border.

[lizma]

Tad snitty, aren't they?

Sounds rather French, so guaranteed to surrender.

Like blam's plan. There must be oil in dem dar hills!