SAN FRANCISCO, May 18, (THEWILL) – Nigeria has agreed to issue travel documents more quickly to its citizens who are in the process of being expelled from Canada as illegitimate refugee claimants, Canadian Immigration Minister, Ahmed Hussen said Friday.
He said that was a key commitment he received this week during meetings with top government officials in Nigeria.
Hussen as previously reported by THEWILL had travelled to Abuja as part of the Liberal government’s efforts to stop the flow of asylum seekers crossing into Canada from the United States between legal checkpoints.
One of the difficulties in dealing with the border crossers is obtaining proper documentation so they can be removed from Canada and returned to their country of origin once their asylum claims have been rejected.
Hussen says he also spoke with U.S. officials in Nigeria, who said they have reduced the number of travel visas issued to Nigerians by 10 per cent in recent months.
A majority of the people entering Canada from the U.S. between regular border crossings this spring have been from Nigeria, with the majority carrying valid U.S. travel visas.
*** Report adapted from The Canadian Press
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