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About The Georgia bulletin (Atlanta) 1963-current | View Entire Issue (March 19, 1987)
PAGE 11 — The Georgia Bulletin, March 19, 1987 At U.S.-Canada Border, Agencies Scramble To Aid "Bus People” BY LAURIE HANSEN WASHINGTON (NC) — Large numbers of Salvadoran and Guatemalan “bus people,” turned away at the Cana dian border as a result of a new Canadian immigration pro cedure, have agencies in upstate New York and Vermont scrambling to find sources of food, clothing and shelter. Fearing deportation from the United States since passage of the new U.S. immigration reform law, Salvadorans and Guatemalans in increasing numbers are seeking refuge in Canada, say members of church-sponsored refugee assistance groups. Alarmed that the numbers could swell to hundreds of thousands, Canada decided Feb. 20 to institute a new im migration policy. Upon reaching the Canadian border, refugees seeking asylum are now given a hearing date and told they may not enter the country until that date unless they are being deported, said Roderick McDowell, a Cana dian lawyer who is a member of the Central American refugee committee set up by the Canadian Diocese of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Central Americans turned away at the border, ac cording to St. Mary Sister Bonny Butler, who works for the Interfaith Refugee Assistance Project in Buffalo, N.Y., are “without family, friends or money... of ten in shirt sleeves and lightweight clothing." The project, she said, attempts to meet refugees’ material needs as well as prepare them for the Canadian immigration inquiry. Some have flown to U.S. border towns to make the cross- ACONTECIMIENTOS Retiro Para Matrimonios Jovenes FECHA y HORA: COSTO: LUGAR: INFORMACION: CONTINUACION: SE INVITA: A parejas que lleven pocos anos de casados para retirarse a un lugar Undo a compartir su fe y acercarse mas a Dios y a los demas. Viernes 3 de abril a las Sabado 4 de abril Domingo 5 de abril hasta las $50 por pareja. Jorge y Clarita Guigou, telefono 442-9683 Para aquellas parejas que de- seen continuar compartiendo y creciendo en su fe, se les ofrece pertenecer al grupo Uamado JUNTOS PARA SIEMPRE. Votos Matrimoniales Teniendo como base el amor, la Comunidad Hispana de la Catedral Catolica, “Christ the King” te invita a una Misa Especial que se celebrara el dom- ingo 22 de Marzo a la 1:30 p. m. Celebrando la Renova- cion de las Promesas del Santo Sacramento del Matrimonio para todo aquel que haya contraido matrimonio catolico con anterioridad y desee renovarlo. Habra un brindis a la terminacion. Mas in- formacion: Graciela Rivera 237-6424. Banquets/Meetlngs Dinner parties, recep tions, luncheons, and business meetings. Private Room Available BRANDO’S 15500 ('hamblee-I)unwoody Rd. ■ Contact Ken Kppard, :|!M>-»:100 I MORTGAGES MORTGAGES MORTGAGES HOME LOANS FOR BUYING OR REFINANCING CALL THE PROFESSIONALS WE OFFER: •CONVENTIONAL • FHA/VA • FIXED •JUMBOS CALL REPUBLIC MORTGAGE CORP. 441-2399 QUARTETTE CLASSIQUE Elegant string quartet music for your wedding or reception by professional musicians 394-4428 Duo Trio ^ or Quartet ing, but most have traveled by bus, leading the Montreal press to label them “the bus people.” They flock to Canada because it is a nation known to pro tect refugees seeking political asylum, said McDowell. But the influx has overwhelmed the Canadian immigra tion system, according to McDowell, also executive direc tor of a Canadian agency that gives legal counsel to refugees seeking asylum. Until Feb. 20, refugees from 18 designated countries, in cluding El Salvador and Guatemala, were able to enter Canada and automatically obtain stays of one year with a valid work permit. Now, said McDowell, those applying for refugee status in Canada must endure “a more cumbersome process,” in which they must appear at two hearings and prove under oath they left their homelands as a result of “a well-founded fear of persecution” based on “race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a social group.” Bishop Thomas Fulton of Saint Catharines said in a telephone interview that while immigration regulations may become more strict, he does not anticipate Canada will stop welcoming Salvadorans and Guatemalans seeking refuge. “The government has said again and again that it is not going to prohibit legitimate political refugees from entering the country,” Bishop Fulton said. McDowell said refugees arriving in Canada “say candid ly they would rather stay in the United States where the weather is warmer.” Many report they left after being fired by U.S. employers fearing penalties as a result of U.S. im migration law. McDowell said some Canadians have expressed fear the new immigrants will “take their jobs,” but added the sud den refugee influx has also produced “an amazing move ment” uniting Mennonites, Catholics, Quakers, Episcopalians and members of the United Church anxious to help. Anne Pilsbury, a lawyer with the Central American Legal Canadian Bishop Urges Kindness Assistance Office in Brooklyn, N.Y., said those refugees allowed to cross into Canada have been welcomed. “When people show up at the doorsteps of shelters, churches and agencies along the border, they’re not locked up and treated as criminals. Rather they’re given permis sion to live and work in Canada, and also some minimal social assistance." TABLE SHARED — New York Gov. Mario Cuomo listens to Cardinal John O’Connor as they share a dinner table at a meeting of the New' York Catholic Conference. The two men, who have had their differences on issues such as abortion, were speakers at the conference. (NC photo by Jeff Goulding) WASHINGTON (NC) - Bishop Thomas Fulton of St. Catharines, Ontario, has urged Canadian Catholics to welcome growing numbers of Salvadorans and Guatemalans who, fearing deportation from the United States, are ap pearing on the Canadian doorstep. Telling members of his diocese they are ‘‘first hand witnesses” of a human tragedy, Bishop Fulton asked them to re spond with Christian con cern to the Salvadorans and Guatemalans by inviting them into their homes. In a pastoral letter, issued in February, Bishop Fulton noted that large numbers of Central Americans have been ar riving in the Diocese of St. Catharines since Decem ber. As a result, the bishop an nounced, he had decided to hire a salaried coordinator to assist the refugees and to underwrite their “initial basic needs.” In the first six weeks of 1987, 6,120 emigres claim ing refugee status arrived in Canada, nearly as many as the total number of refugees arriving in all of 1985. FIRST TO HAVE GUINNESS, HARP, AND BASS ALE ON TAPI1! Exclusively Served By The Pint At County Cork Pub 56 East Andrews Drive, N.W. — Buckhead — Upper Level Sweet 16 Atlanta’s “Only” Authentic Irish Pub Mar. 19-21 - Bob Mulcahy Mar. 24-28 - Bob Mulcahy Mar. 31-Apr. 4 - Dennis Fulham Apr. 7-11 - Dennis Fulham Your Hosts Cynthia & Art Fessenden Open 3 p.111. till 2 a.m. Daily, Sunday 3-12 p.m. Traveling Irish Minstrels Tues.-Sat.-Call for info Irish Gift Shop 262-A-BAR jfirv S$/an/as METRO WIDE DELIVERY MAJOR CREDIT CARDS BY PHONE 255-7127 5975 Roswell Rd. Hammond Festival Center 565-2217 1401 Johnson Ferry Rd. Merchants Festival Center
