Grant Mitchell and Human Rights

Caroline Xavier: Grant Mitchell expressed concern that refugees can be held by the border agency for many years. "That doesn't seem consistent with proper human rights," Mitchell, a Liberal appointee, said during a Senate defence and security committee meeting. "It doesn't seem consistent with the rule of law, according to CTV. How do you propose that we deal with that in a fair or more just way " The border agency detains people who are considered a flight risk or a danger to the public, those who arrive in very large groups, and newcomers whose identities cannot be confirmed. "We take detaining somebody very seriously," said Caroline Xavier, vice-president of the border agency operations branch. "We do look at various other options, other than detention, before we get there, depending on the case before us." The border agency also consults the Immigration and Refugee Board every 30 days to determine whether someone can continue to be held, she added. Sen. In 2013-14, the border agency held 10,088 immigrants -- almost one-fifth of them refugee claimants -- in various facilities, including federal holding centres and provincial and municipal jails. Xavier told the committee that since the agency was established in 2003, 11 people have died in custody -- two in federal holding centres and nine in provincial facilities. "We do take this matter extremely seriously," Xavier said. Two detainees died this month in Ontario correctional facilities. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.