Shelling resumes at Thai-Cambodia border despite U.S. mediation
Cambodia and Thailand accused each other of cross-border attacks on Sunday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said their leaders agreed to pursu...
Canada is seeing a sharp drop in refugee claims as it tightens visa controls, limiting legal pathways for asylum-seekers. The government says the measures prevent abuse, but advocates warn they leave displaced people with few safe options.
📉 Refugee Claims Declining
In January 2024, 11,840 people filed asylum claims in Canada, down from 19,821 in July 2023—a 40% decline. It is the lowest figure since September 2023, according to Immigration and Refugee Board data.
🚫 Visa Approvals Drop
Canada issued 1.5 million visitor visas last year, down from 1.8 million in 2023, tightening entry for those seeking refuge. The decline was most pronounced in countries with high numbers of asylum-seekers:
🇧🇩 Bangladeshi visas fell from 45,322 to 27,975
🇭🇹 Haitian visas dropped from 8,984 to 5,487
🇳🇬 Nigerian visas declined from 79,378 to 51,828
🇦🇫 Afghan visas fell from 468 to 330
🇮🇷 Iranian visas decreased from 57,127 to 38,075
📌 No Asylum-Seeker Visas
Canada does not issue visas specifically for asylum-seekers. Refugees must enter the country as visitors, students, or workers, or attempt irregular crossings, which are restricted under a U.S.-Canada agreement.
🛑 Government’s Justification
A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Marc Miller said visa restrictions target countries with high rates of abuse to ensure visas are used as intended.
"This work additionally protects the asylum process ... so that it is available for those who need it most." – Renee LeBlanc Proctor, Immigration Ministry
⚠️ Advocates Raise Concerns
Critics argue the restrictions block legitimate asylum-seekers, forcing them into dangerous, irregular migration routes.
🗣️ Diana Gallego, FCJ Refugee Centre:
"If people are fleeing persecution, the only way that some of them may find safe haven is having an exit visa. If not, they are forced to cross borders walking, putting their lives in danger."
📊 Asylum Backlog Remains High
Despite fewer new claims, Canada still had 278,457 pending asylum cases in January, indicating the strain on the system.
With global displacement on the rise, Canada’s stricter immigration policies continue to fuel debate over access to protection and border control.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
Cambodia and Thailand accused each other of cross-border attacks on Sunday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said their leaders agreed to pursue a ceasefire.
A landmark agreement has been signed for the export of 48 KAAN fighter jets – Türkiye’s indigenously developed National Combat Aircraft – to Indonesia.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has expressed confidence that the country will achieve victory in its anti-imperialist and anti-US struggle. The statement was made on the anniversary of the Korean War armistice, according to the state news agency KCNA on Sunday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled to Scotland on Saturday ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump scheduled for Sunday evening. Officials from both sides have indicated that a trade agreement is within reach.
Firefighters across Greece and the Western Balkans are battling widespread wildfires as southern Europe endures its third heatwave of the summer. Several villages and settlements in Greece and Albania were evacuated on Saturday as flames spread rapidly due to high temperatures and strong winds.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment