People who work with refugees say the influx of would-be Mexican refugees is not over and that many of those currently in places like Windsor will soon be heading for Toronto, putting an additional strain on the city's social services.

Francisco Rico-Martinez, co-director of the FCJ Refugee Centre in Toronto is fielding phone calls every day from Mexicans living in the United States asking the same question: "If I come to Canada can I make a [refugee] claim?" he said. "The answer is yes."

Rico-Martinez said he explains to those who call that it doesn't mean they'll be allowed to stay permanently, but the callers don't seem to want to listen to that part. He predicts as the situation becomes increasingly difficult for Mexicans without legal status in the United States, more will discover Canada as a option.

For the past few weeks, Canadian border guards, social service agencies and the Immigration Department have been reporting a significant spike in the arrival of Mexican refugees. More than 300 have arrived at the border city of Windsor in the past three weeks. 

The fear now is that thousands more are on the way.

Windsor has become the new frontline where mostly Mexican migrants are trying to get into Canada claiming refugee status. Most started their journey to Canada from Florida, spurred on by the false hope of being allowed to stay. 

Canada's Department of Citizenship and Immigration says the situation is serious but not out of control. It has taken the unusual step of posting a notice on its website saying, "Canada has no special programs to fast-track applications, give preferential treatment or grant refugee status to Haitians, Mexicans or other nationals seeking refugee status."
 
The problem started a few weeks ago when Mexicans living illegally in Florida said they were becoming increasingly worried about immigration checks and that the U.S. Department of Immigration and Naturalization was cracking down.  Many thought they would soon be deported and started looking for another option.

A website in Florida posted a notice advising people to head to Canada.

The Jerusalem Haitian Community Center in Naples, Fla., promoted "Information required for Canadian Refugee Status Application" on its website, collected $400 US from adults and $100 US for children in order to fill in paperwork it claimed would allow the Mexicans to enter Canada and work.

Canada does not charge a fee for filling out refugee forms.

Of the 300 or so Mexicans who showed up in Windsor seeking refugee status Rico-Martinez thinks most will eventually end up in Toronto, and for good reason.

"The lawyers are here in Toronto. Where are the refugee hearings? Here in Toronto. Where is the work? People are going to start coming." 

Mary Jo Leddy, a refugee advocate, says she's concerned about people who come here for economic reasons but make refugee claims.

She works with refugees who come directly from Mexico. They are mostly abused women or professionals who are threatened by drug cartels.

"Their legitimate claims are being muddied by this other reality of Mexicans seeking work," she said.

Leddy says networks of non-governmental organizations are trying to get the word out to prevent people from coming to make false refugee claims.