Alan Pollock wrote:
On the other hand there have been documented cases of terrorists from Canada coming into the US in the recent past. So don't give the wrong impression here. There are good reasons to be vigilant, while there's no reason to stereotype or generalize. Nex

While that may be true, what is being pointed out is that not only did
Canada let them in, the US has let them across their border too! So
pointing the finger of blame at Canada is not productive when the INS
(now CBS or something) didn't keep them out of the US.

In rec.travel.usa-canada S B <s_brook.nothere@not.here.for.spam.att.canada.ca> wrote: Alan Pollock wrote:
On the other hand there have been documented cases of terrorists from Canada coming into the US in the recent past. So don't give the wrong impression here. There are good reasons to be vigilant, while there's no reason to stereotype or generalize. Nex
While that may be true, what is being pointed out is that not only did Canada let them in, the US has let them across their border too! So pointing the finger of blame at Canada is not productive when the INS (now CBS or something) didn't keep them out of the US.


I believe the argument goes like this: Immigrating to a country like Canada
and gaining landed status is an exhaustive process. Gaining tourist entry into
the US, especially for a landed Canadian immigrant is not, and in fact can
never be as thorough because it takes minutes, not the many months an
immigration process does.

While there are *certainly* holes in the US immigration process as well,
they're being closed little by little. The argument goes that Canada is not
doing nearly as much to weed out terrorists. Nex

On Mon, 30 Jun 2003, Alan Pollock <nex@nopanix.com> wrote:
I believe the argument goes like this: Immigrating to a country like Canada and gaining landed status is an exhaustive process. Gaining tourist entry into the US, especially for a landed Canadian immigrant is not, and in fact can never be as thorough because it takes minutes, not the many months an immigration process does.

In the US, there are thought to be 8 million illegal aliens, of which
none are in a computerized database and 6 million are on 3x5 cards in
unlinked INS offices. It takes about 30 days for a search and that only
works when the proper name is searched for. (Thanks to "pb" for pointing
this out.)

In any event, I find it distasteful to talk about this in term of border
control, since it encourages the xenophobic idea that outsiders are
dangerous and that we'll be all right as long as we can keep them away.
While there are *certainly* holes in the US immigration process as well, they're being closed little by little. The argument goes that Canada is not doing nearly as much to weed out terrorists.

I sincerely hope that Canada doesn't become as xenophobic as the US. As
it is, it's already harder for me, as a Canadian, to enter Canada than
to enter any other country I've been to. Surely that's not normal.

--
Yves Bellefeuille <yan@storm.ca>, Ottawa, Canada
Francais / English / Esperanto
Esperanto FAQ: http://www.esperanto.net/veb/faq.html
Rec.travel.europe FAQ: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/travel/europe/faq

In rec.travel.usa-canada Yves Bellefeuille <yan@storm.ca> wrote:
I sincerely hope that Canada doesn't become as xenophobic as the US. As it is, it's already harder for me, as a Canadian, to enter Canada than to enter any other country I've been to. Surely that's not normal.


I don't believe the US is xenophobic. In fact, when I lived in Quebec, I saw
many more xenophobes (even against fellow Canadians) than I've ever seen the
other countries I've lived in, including the US. The US is incredibly
inclusive, and this reaches down into the community, into people's homes, and
down to the personal level.

Canadian stereotypes about the US are often simply wrong, possibly because
they tend to be so shamelssly self-serving. Nex

On Mon, 30 Jun 2003, Alan Pollock <nex@nopanix.com> wrote:
I don't believe the US is xenophobic.

I do believe that if the whole world (or, say, the UN Security Council,
for example) disagrees with the US, then the US will conclude that it
alone is right and that the whole world is wrong and out to harm it.
Surely that's xenophobia.

Anyway, this is now off topic for rec.travel.usa-canada and
misc.immigration.usa. If you wish me to reply, please set the Follow-up
line to a more appropriate group.

--
Yves Bellefeuille <yan@storm.ca>, Ottawa, Canada
Francais / English / Esperanto
Esperanto FAQ: http://www.esperanto.net/veb/faq.html
Rec.travel.europe FAQ: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/travel/europe/faq

"Alan Pollock" <nex@nopanix.com> wrote in message
news:bdo3d4$f33$2@reader1.panix.com... In rec.travel.usa-canada S B
<s_brook.nothere@not.here.for.spam.att.canada.ca> wrote: Alan Pollock wrote: While there are *certainly* holes in the US immigration process as well, they're being closed little by little. The argument goes that Canada is not doing nearly as much to weed out terrorists. Nex
But, they will change when the terrorists start targeting them. KM
--
(-:alohacyberian:-) At my website there are 3000 live cameras or
visit NASA, play games, read jokes, send greeting cards & connect
to CNN news, NBA, the White House, Academy Awards or learn all
about Hawaii, Israel and more: http://keith.martin.home.att.net/

According to S B <s_brook.nothere@not.here.for.spam.att.canada.ca>: Alan Pollock wrote: While that may be true, what is being pointed out is that not only did Canada let them in, the US has let them across their border too! So pointing the finger of blame at Canada is not productive when the INS (now CBS or something) didn't keep them out of the US.

Whenever the US threatens to tighten the border, Canadians scream.