Immigrants overwhelming city services

Immigrants overwhelming city services

September 23, 2007
BY NIRAJ WARIKOO and MARGARITA BAUZA
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS

A sudden influx of illegal immigrants into Windsor is straining the city's social safety net, costing taxpayers an estimated $200,000 so far, and forcing the mayor to ask for help from the Canadian government.

Over the past three weeks, 220 undocumented immigrants -- mostly from Mexico -- have driven from their homes in the United States to Detroit and crossed the border into Windsor to seek refugee status.

Much of the rush stems from groups in Florida that were putting false information on the Internet that Canada is now taking in illegal immigrants and offering them generous financial assistance, Windsor officials said.

"The word has spread like wildfire for other illegal immigrants to do the same," Mayor Eddie Francis said. "There seems to be an ongoing effort by community groups who have been advertising that by coming to Canada and seeking refugee status, you're able to escape enforcement and get access to social assistance and health care until your claim is heard. That's been the driving force."

Late Thursday, 20 illegal immigrants arrived in the city, Francis said Friday. One of the newcomers had a baby at a Windsor hospital that day.

"Although I empathize with their plight ... we don't have the ability to fund this," Francis said Friday. "It's brought our system to a pressure point."
The unprecedented influx started Aug. 28 after Mexican immigrants in Florida grew increasingly worried about a U.S. government crackdown on illegal immigration.

The city of Windsor has taken in 39 individuals and 38 families, said Debbie Cercone, executive director of Housing and Children's Services for the city. Some of the immigrants were urged to go to Canada by a group in Naples, Fla., called the Jerusalem Haitian Community Center, she said. The group charged $400 a head for its services and "promised easy access into Canada," Cercone said.

Only 13% of Mexicans applying to become refugees in Canada this year were approved, Francis said.

Officials at the community center in Florida could not be reached for comment Friday.

After arriving at the customs booths in Canada, the arrivals announce they want to apply for refugee status. That process can take up to two years, Francis said.

In the meantime, Ontario's social service system has to provide them with emergency lodging. But "our system was not set up to deal with such large numbers," Francis said.

The city is required to pay 20% of their social services, with Ontario required to pay for the remaining 80%.

Francis said he spoke Friday with Canadian government officials, asking for financial help. He also asked them to expedite the refugee application process.
The city is working with area motels and the Salvation Army to help house the newcomers. About 10 to 12 families stayed at the Devonshire Motel on Howard Avenue in Windsor recently, said manager Mike Soni. And there were 22 people at the Salvation Army shelter on Church Street, said Salvation Army spokeswoman Maj. Patricia Phinney.

Some of the immigrants have as many as eight children, she said.
Several immigrants at the Salvation Army shelter refused to speak with a reporter Friday, out of fear of bringing attention to themselves. Meanwhile, the city will work on ways to support them, albeit grudgingly.

"Quite frankly, the city can't afford to pay for the consequences of U.S. immigration policy," Francis said. "We just can't."

Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at 248-351-2998 or nwarikoo@freepress.com.