• AnyOldName3@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Usually, because they know a second language, but the first safe country they pass through doesn’t use that language, or because they’ve got a relative living legally in a different country that they think can help them.

    • dustojnikhummer@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      That doesn’t change the fact that international law tells them to seek the first safe country. If you go further you are an illegal immigrant, and over the last 8 or so years I lost absolutely all of my empathy towards those people.

      or because they’ve got a relative living legally in a different country that they think can help them.

      Then get a visa and go the legal way.

      • loklan@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        international law tells them to seek the first safe country

        This is not true at all. It’s not a requirement of the Convention on the Status of Refugees or any other international law.

      • owenfromcanada@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Ever tried to get a visa? It takes a lot of time and money, and people in these situations have neither.

        I’ve never heard of any international law that states as such. A quick search listed the agreements between the US and Canada, as well as the Dublin III agreement in the EU, both of which have exceptions for family members, but neither of these are all-encompassing international laws or would prohibit what’s being described here.