Some Canadians Disapprove of Migrants Crossing from US

 

A new public opinion study shows many Canadians are unhappy about people entering Canada illegally from the United States.

Such border-crossers are mostly people from the Middle East and Africa. Some say they traveled to Canada because they were afraid the U.S. government would return them to their home countries.

News services report that the number of refugees² entering Canada rose sharply³ in the first two months of 2017.

In January and February, Canadian police caught over 1,000 people crossing into Canada without permission. In all of 2016, that number was just over 2,000.

So far this year, about 5,500 people have requested Canada accept them as refugees. Only 20 percent of them have been stopped at the border.

If the trend continues, more than 30,000 people will attempt to get refugee¹ status in Canada this year. That would be 40 percent more than last year.

Due to the surge⁴ of refugees, the Reuters news agency⁵ asked Canadians what they think of people who come into Canada without permission.

The study found that many Canadians think the country will not be as safe as in the past if the foreigners are permitted to stay.

About 1,000 people were questioned.

Almost half said the migrants should be returned to the U.S. About the same number said they did not agree with the way Prime⁶ Minister Justin Trudeau is dealing⁷ with the issue.

About 400 people said they thought migrants coming into Canada from the U.S. would make the country less safe.

Last month, Reuters went to the small central border town of Emerson, Manitoba. The U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota are south of the town.

Jamie French lives in Emerson. She says last month, a group of 16 migrants came to the door of her house early in the morning. She said she was frightened.

Emerson’s emergency coordinator⁸ said none of the migrants have caused any trouble, so far. Some, however, have needed medical treatment after spending hours outside in freezing temperatures.

The increasing numbers of people crossing into Canada can be costly⁹ for these border towns.

For example, it costs Emerson $500 every time police call firefighters to help treat the health problems of migrants.

Jacqueline Reimer runs a restaurant in Emerson. She has fed some of the migrants for free. She says she wants them to feel welcome. But she also says she wonders why the Canadian government does not do more to help Canada’s homeless citizens.

Some Canadians also expressed worry that even larger number of people will try to cross the border as the weather warms.

Words in This Story

trend – n. a general direction of change : a way of behaving, proceeding¹⁰, etc., that is developing and becoming more common

status - n. the position of a person or thing according to the law

migrant – n. a person who goes from one place to another, especially to find work

coordinator – n. a person who organizes people or groups so that they work together properly and well

1 refugee   

n.难民，流亡者

参考例句：

• The refugee was condemned to a life of wandering.这个难民注定要过流浪的生活。
• The refugee is suffering for want of food and medical supplies.难民苦于缺少食物和医药用品。

2 refugees   

n.避难者，难民( refugee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The UN has begun making airdrops of food to refugees. 联合国已开始向难民空投食物。
• They claimed they were political refugees and not economic migrants. 他们宣称自己是政治难民，不是经济移民。

3 sharply   

adj.锐利地，急速；adv.严厉地，鲜明地

参考例句：

• The plane dived sharply and rose again.飞机猛然俯冲而后又拉了起来。
• Demand for personal computers has risen sharply.对个人电脑的需求急剧增长。

4 surge   

n.汹涌，澎湃；vi.汹涌，强烈感到，飞涨；vt.放开，松手

参考例句：

• The surge travelled southwards along the coast.浪涛沿着海岸向南涌去。
• It failed to stimulate a surge of investment in industry.这没有能刺激工业投资的激增。

5 agency   

n.经办；代理；代理处

参考例句：

• This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
• He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。

6 prime   

adj.首要的，主要的；最好的，第一流的

参考例句：

• The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
• He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

9 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

10 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。