COPILOT:
Immigration to Canada; in recent years, how many refugees fron South and Central America has Canada accepted?
In recent years, Canada has seen a significant increase in the number of refugees from South and Central America. For example, the number of refugee claimants granted asylum in Canada was close to 37,000 in 2023, up from just over 14,000 in 2018. While the exact number of refugees from South and Central America isn't specified, it's clear that the overall acceptance rate has increased.
What is the definition of a refugee being used?
A refugee is defined as a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. This definition is based on the 1951 Refugee Convention, which outlines that a refugee is someone who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of their nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country.
definition of a refugee - Search
How do these refugees get to Canada?
Refugees come to Canada through various pathways, often depending on their circumstances and the programs available. Here are some of the main ways:
Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program: This program is for people who need protection from outside Canada. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and private sponsors identify refugees for resettlement. Refugees cannot apply directly to Canada for resettlement; they must be referred by the UNHCR or a private sponsor.
In-Canada Asylum Program: This program is for people making refugee protection claims from within Canada. These individuals may have entered Canada legally as tourists, students, or temporary workers and then applied for asylum due to a well-founded fear of persecution or risk of torture in their home countries.
Private Sponsorship: Private sponsors, such as Sponsorship Agreement Holders, Groups of Five, and Community Sponsors, help resettle refugees to Canada. These sponsors provide financial and emotional support to refugees during their initial settlement period.
Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program: This program matches refugees identified by the UNHCR with private sponsors in Canada. The government and private sponsors share the costs of supporting the refugees.
Once refugees arrive in Canada, they receive support through programs like the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP), which helps them with immediate and essential needs such as housing, orientation, and financial support.
How Canada’s refugee system works - Canada.ca
What kind of support do government-assisted refugees get?
In these same years, how many Central and South American refugees have been accepted in the US?
In 2023, the United States received a significant number of asylum applications from Central and South American countries. According to the data, the US received 121,159 asylum applications from Venezuela, 74,507 from Colombia, 56,583 from Cuba, 52,933 from Nicaragua, 47,709 from Haiti, 22,063 from Guatemala, 20,163 from Honduras, and 18,505 from Mexico.
These numbers reflect the ongoing humanitarian crisis in these regions and the US's role in providing refuge to those fleeing persecution and violence.
Refugees in the United States of America
So what is the total for 2023?
In 2023, the United States received a significant number of asylum applications from Central and South American countries. Here are the numbers for some of the major countries:
Venezuela: 121,159
Colombia: 74,507
Cuba: 56,583
Nicaragua: 52,933
Haiti: 47,709
Guatemala: 22,063
Honduras: 20,163
Mexico: 18,505
Adding these numbers together, the total number of asylum applications from Central and South American countries in 2023 is approximately 413,622.
How many of these were approved?
In 2023, the United States granted asylum to 54,350 individuals. This includes both affirmative asylum grants by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and defensive asylum grants by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).
Were all these from Central and South America?
No, not all of the 54,350 individuals granted asylum in the United States in 2023 were from Central and South America. The leading countries of nationality for persons granted asylum included Afghanistan, China, and Venezuela. While a significant number of asylum seekers were from Central and South America, individuals from other regions also received asylum.
Are there any reasons given why numbers have increased so dramatically in 2023?
Yes, there are several reasons for the dramatic increase in asylum applications in the United States in 2023:
Political Instability and Violence: Many countries in Central and South America, such as Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, have experienced significant political instability, violence, and economic hardship, leading to a surge in asylum seekers.
Humanitarian Crises: Ongoing humanitarian crises in countries like Afghanistan have also contributed to the increase in asylum applications. The US has provided protection to many Afghans fleeing persecution and violence.
Changes in US Immigration Policies: The US has made efforts to expand its capacity for processing asylum applications and reduce backlogs, which has led to an increase in the number of applications processed.
Increased Awareness and Access: Improved access to information and resources for asylum seekers, as well as increased awareness of the asylum process, have contributed to the rise in applications.
These factors combined have led to a significant increase in asylum applications in 2023.
What is creating violent climates for people in their home countries?
Several factors contribute to the violent climates in Central and South American countries:
Political Instability: Many countries in the region experience political turmoil, corruption, and weak governance, leading to power struggles and violence.
Economic Hardship: High levels of poverty, unemployment, and economic inequality drive people to engage in criminal activities, including drug trafficking and gang violence.
Drug Trafficking: The region is a major hub for drug production and trafficking, leading to violent conflicts between drug cartels and law enforcement agencies.
Social Inequality: Deep-rooted social inequalities and lack of access to education, healthcare, and basic services contribute to social unrest and violence.
Climate Change: Extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and lead to resource scarcity, which can fuel conflicts.
These factors create a challenging environment for many people, forcing them to flee their home countries in search of safety and better opportunities.
Chapter 12: Central and South America | Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
New Report Details Dire Climate Impacts in Latin America and the Caribbean | UNFCCC
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Homeland Security on illegal immigrants in the USA:
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Does Canada have an illegal immigrants problem? Where can I find information on this?
Canada does face challenges related to illegal immigration, particularly with individuals crossing the border between official ports of entry. The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) provides statistics on irregular border crossers, which are individuals who enter Canada between official ports of entry and make a claim for refugee protection.
For more detailed information, you can visit the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada website, which offers comprehensive statistics and reports on this issue.
Irregular border crosser statistics - Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
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Asked DeepSeek to orient me with respect to Homeland Security publications:
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