antipode
Posts: 1787
Joined: 4/19/2004 Status: offline
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quote:
banning certain people There is no overly political statement inherent in Galloway's not being allowed entry into Canada. The Canadians have, in the past few years, significantly tightened up their immigration rules, under American pressure. This was precipitated by multiple Middle Eastern bombers entering the US from Canada - terrorists that were living in Canada under its generous asylum rules. It is even possible for Americans with drunk driving convictions in the US to be refused entry, under a rule the Canadians put in place so they could bar folks with any type of conviction abroad. During a recent Vancouver layover on my way back to D.C. from China, I had trouble persuading the immigration officer to let me in for a few hours, just so I could have dinner, a smoke and a nap at the airport Sheraton - this despite the fact that I am a long term U.S. resident, and native holder of a Western European passport. In years past, when I was living in NYC, I could drive across the New York - Quebec border just on the strength of my New York license plates.
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