Czechs, Mexicans angry over Canada visas

OTTAWA, July 14 (UPI) -- Canada raised diplomatic ire Tuesday by demanding travelers from the Czech Republic and Mexico have visas in a bid to cut down refugee claims.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said in Ottawa Monday travelers from the two countries would have to apply for temporary resident visas to visit, study or work in Canada effective Tuesday.

In response, the Czech ambassador was recalled and both countries lodged diplomatic protests, the Canwest News Service said.

Kenney said the Conservative government's decision was based on the fact many refugee and asylum requests from the two countries had been abandoned by the claimants or rejected by his department, and it was creating a logjam for legitimate claimants.

Various human rights organizations have noted many of the Czechs seeking refugee status in Canada are Roma, or gypsies, who widely face discrimination throughout Europe, Canwest said.

As a member of the European Union, the Czech government could push for the entire union to demand visas from Canadian travelers in retaliation, the report said.