MONTREAL – Canada has seen a spike in the number of Mexicans seeking asylum here this year, with the vast majority of them coming to Montreal. They say they are fleeing Mexico in search of jobs and safety, but statistics show most applicants from the country are rejected.
Ricardo Santos, 28, arrived at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport on Oct. 4. He says that although he did not know much about Canada, there was a direct flight to Montreal from Mexico City.
“I left because there is no work and there is a lot of violence,” Santos said in a recent interview outside a downtown YMCA, where he was staying while his refugee application was processed. “Mexico is becoming a more dangerous country.”
