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Canada issues U.S. travel warning
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View this Thread in Original format
| dEsidEL |
http://www.cnn.com/2002/TRAVEL/10/3...avel/index.html
just some newsworthy info to any TA's from TO planning on heading down to the US in the near future ..
(not very surprising if ya ask me)
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Canada issued a travel advisory this week urging Canadian citizens born in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria to consider avoiding travel to the United States.
The advisory, released by the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, was in response to U.S. legislation passed after the September 11 attacks authorizing the Immigration and Naturalization Service to monitor the entry and exit of citizens from those countries.
Such monitoring allows those individuals to be photographed and fingerprinted.
Canada considers the regulations "discriminatory" and "unfriendly," a Canadian official told CNN.
The government of Canada warned "Canadians who were born in the above countries or who may be citizens of these countries to consider carefully whether they should attempt to enter the United States for any reason, including transit to or from third countries," the advisory said.
It also warned Canadians that the increased activity may lead to delays at U.S. immigration checkpoints.
An amendment to the United States National Security Entry Exit Registration System, or NSEERS, adds Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen as countries whose citizens could "attract special attention," the advisory warns.
A spokesman for the Canadian Foreign Ministry told CNN his government feels the law is "discriminatory"
"These people should not be singled out by their country of birth," said spokesman Reynald Foiron in a telephone interview Wednesday.
"If the United States doesn't have a reasonable doubt about someone's activities, country of birth should not be taken into account."
The measure is "contrary to American and Canadian principles" as well as against Canadian laws governing nondiscrimination," Foiron said. "It chastises the rights of freedom."
Foiron said Canada and the United States have enjoyed excellent security cooperation, which makes the regulations unnecessary.
"Why would having this help?" Foiron said. "If the United States has a specific case, they can bring it to our attention within the normal channels between our security agencies.
"We don't need this blanket measure. It's unfriendly."
The State Department said it was not surprised that Canada advised its citizens on how they could be affected
"We have plenty of warnings for American citizens around the world, and it's just advice to people to tell them what to expect," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher. "And governments do that because they have an obligation to their own citizens."
Canadian Foreign Minister Bill Graham made a strong appeal to Secretary of State Colin Powell regarding the issue during a meeting last month in the margins of the U.N. General Assembly, Foiron said.
Graham voiced concern that some Canadian citizens would be affected by the legislation. He has argued that Canadian citizens be exempted.
Last month a man with joint Canadian-Syrian citizenship was detained by U.S. authorities in New York while changing planes at John F. Kennedy Airport and was deported to Syria. Canada protested on the grounds the man should have been sent back to Canada.
Foiron said Powell indicated there could be "some flexibility" relating to the citizens from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, because those countries were added in an executive order.
But regulations on citizens from countries covered by NSEERS would have to be changed by Congress.
Boucher agreed the United States and Canada had good cooperation and were looking at "different kinds of new agreements that can be done."
"It's a big border and bad guys try to come across," Boucher said. "The question is what we, in cooperation with the Canadian government, can do to make both our countries safer." |
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| TheDemon |
| Well, Well. So Americans like us huh? My ass. So just because iam muslim makes me a terrorist? Hey Tatgirl, I love to see you defend this one. What a ing joke. |
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| fastmp3 |
now what else ? a hunt like mc arthur did for the commies ?
home of the brave
land of the free
yeah right
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: |
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| TrancerbianMan |
| bunch of bull!! :whip: :whip: |
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| TrueToTheCrew |
Unreal.
Thats what happens when you get a true redneck in office.
My question is would of sept 11 of happened if Gore was president. |
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| halo20 |
| quote: | Originally posted by TrueToTheCrew
My question is would of sept 11 of happened if Gore was president. |
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Keep politics way the away from this board. Trust me, you'll do us all a favor.
This article seems awfully one sided, ironic how it comes from CNN again. I'm trying really really hard not to open that can of worms.
A bunch of us are going through the border this weekend, I'm interested to see what happens. (of course I'm as white as casper, so I'm not referring to searches done on me) |
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| Dj-HordasH |
| what a load of ing bollocks! |
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| TrueToTheCrew |
| quote: | Originally posted by halo20
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Keep politics way the away from this board. Trust me, you'll do us all a favor.
This article seems awfully one sided, ironic how it comes from CNN again. I'm trying really really hard not to open that can of worms.
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Dude how can you not bring up politics on this board. The Unites states congress is trying to ban all after hour parties thinking that will solve the drug problem. or how about Idance. My friend if we roll over and ignore politics there wont be a party scene anymore. Toronto's political efforts is why we can still party in Toronto.
Let me tell you if they outlaw parties and they are forced to go underground again say good bye to running water , heat , security and God forbid if something happens to someone who needs medical attention. Im not sure if you are american (u spelt 'favor' in american) or from canada (location says guelph) but whatever side of the border your on politics affect our parties substaintially. |
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| halo20 |
You see, the ing drama already.
I was implying outside dance music politics. Such as the American Presidency. This board (IMO of course) is reknown for churning the argument into a thousand completely irrelevant issues. Circa the dawn of TA, more recently the Sniper turned Russian politics turned CNN propaganda debate. Yep, it was colorful.
Now going back to your argument about politics in parties, umm yep. Good call dude, you get the Mr. Obvious award. Now please explain to me the relevance and connection in regards to your question about Gore and the almighty tranceaddict factory.
By all of a sudden citing evidence of parties going underground you proved my point. Bringing up completely extraneous points has to be my favorite thing about your post. :rolleyes:
Please, please don't start teaching me about ing Toronto municipal politics, I've been over that bridge way too many times. My favorite thing about being a fourth year honors political science major (cough* brag, I've shoveled my ) is getting to hear people in everyday life (msg boards) bring up issues that were brought up in class except this time those people present arguments in all directions without any substance.
Ah wow, my favorite (I mean favourite) was when you chewed up my American vocabulary. You are so smart, can I have your brain. Please Mr. Smart man. (wow my rants have improved, I swear) |
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| Fir3start3r |
| quote: | Originally posted by TrueToTheCrew
Dude how can you not bring up politics on this board. |
Because this is the T-O-R-O-N-T-O forum...
This is brand new P-O-L-I-T-C-A-L issue that belongs in it's correct spot...(hopefully someone will move it? *hint)
Besides that, yes, this stinks to high heaven...
A lot of my friends have emmigrated to Canada within the last 10 years or so.
The fear mongering in the U.S. just way too much.
Security is one thing, but right out racial discrimination and profiling is other thing entirely... |
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| dEsidEL |
wells sorry guys for inadvertantly starting up another debate on this board when i really didn't mean to. I just figured that since some of you guys were probably heading down south in the next couple of weeks cause of the upcomming parties that perhaps if this particular news event affects you then maybe just be a little more vigilant that's all. This is not an excuse to flame attack Americans. The decisions of a few people don't reflect the opinions of all. It's unfortunate what's being said in the article and I'm sure nobody wants this. I just don't know how this thread ended up becoming a debate about US foreign policies and the like. So I'm sorry if anyone was offended.
Anyhow, Yahoo.com posted another article about this, i dunno if it was written by the AP, but ah here it is:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...canada_usa_dc_3
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Upset Canada Issues Rare Caution on Travel to U.S.
Wed Oct 30, 5:52 PM ET
By David Ljunggren
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada, in a highly unusual travel warning, on Wednesday urged Canadian citizens born in countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia to think carefully before entering the United States, saying they could fall afoul of tough new U.S. anti-terrorism laws.
The Foreign Ministry said it issued the advisory after Washington stipulated that anyone born in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, or Syria needed to be photographed and fingerprinted on arrival in the United States.
This includes citizens of Canada, a country which is traditionally regarded as one of the closest allies of the United States.
"It's not something we approve of and we've registered our strongest disapproval with the United States authorities," Foreign Minister Bill Graham told reporters.
"We can't tell the Americans what to do on their own territory. What we're telling them is that we don't accept this and we find it very troubling...I am certain that in due course common sense will prevail." The Foreign Ministry advisory, posted on its Web site, is another indication of how ties between the two neighbors have soured in past months amid disputes over trade, policy toward Iraq and immigration policies.
Before the Sept. 11 suicide attacks, people from both countries crossed the shared 5,525 mile border with barely a thought. Security and identity checks have now been tightened considerably.
The U.S. rules, introduced on Sept. 11 this year, are designed to tighten security by authorizing the Immigration and Naturalization Service to track the arrival and departure of non-immigrants.
Ottawa's travel warning follows the controversial deportation of a Canadian citizen by the United States to Syria, his birthplace, earlier this month.
The advisory also said Canadians born in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or Yemen could attract special attention from U.S. authorities.
"In these circumstances, the (ministry) advises Canadians who were born in the above (eight) countries or who may be citizens of these countries to consider carefully whether they should attempt to enter the United States for any reason, including transit to or from third countries," it said.
Graham said he had raised the issue last month with Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites), who gave assurances that some kind of flexibility would be introduced for Canadian citizens.
"We're expecting some news from the Americans. They have not brought in that flexibility," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Reynald Doiron.
In Washington, the State Department said the new rules were designed to make the United States safer.
"I think we are concerned that many, many countries in the world have had problems with terrorists," spokesman Richard Boucher told a briefing.
He referred specifically to the case of Algerian-born Ahmed Ressam, who was arrested in December 1999 trying to enter the United States from Canada in a car packed with explosives. It later emerged that he had ignored a Canadian deportation order against him and even managed to obtain a Canadian passport.
"So, yes, it's a big border and bad guys try to come across. I think that goes without saying. The question is what we, in cooperation with the Canadian government, can do to make both our countries safer," said Boucher.
Last month, U.S. agents at New York's John F. Kennedy airport arrested a Canadian they suspected of links to militant groups, finally expelling him to Syria on Oct. 8.
Mohamed Arar -- who also holds a Syrian passport -- was arrested as he was changing planes on his way back to Canada from Tunisia. He is in detention in Syria, where authorities are probing whether he has links to groups such as al Qaeda.
U.S. critics charge that Canada's immigration system does not do enough to weed out militants who might want to launch attacks in the United States. Graham said he had stressed to U.S. officials that all immigrants had to go through tough security screening before coming to Canada.
"I have pointed out to them that both our countries are countries of immigration and that Canadian citizens have a right to be treated as Canadian citizens wherever they may be born," he said.
Hussein Amery, president of the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations, said the U.S. rules were a clear case of racial profiling and urged Ottawa to toughen its stance.
"It certainly looks, smells and feels like racism...the Americans are certainly not treating Canadians as friends when they do this," he added, referring to the Arar case.
Canada's ties with the United States are already under strain over a protracted trade dispute about Canadian lumber exports, fresh tensions over wheat exports and Ottawa's opposition to a unilateral U.S. attack on Iraq. |
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| E*Master |
| what is their ing Problem????? U know what? Bush is starting to remind me a lot of Hitler. Next thing u know they will put muslim Americans into "camps". I swear, it will happen. Eventually..... No offence Nat... but this is total BS. |
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