Ottawa continues to hold a group of 76 presumed Tamil migrants in detention nearly a week after they arrived in British Columbia, as the government tries to determine if any of the men hold ties to terrorist or criminal organizations.
The men were found last weekend, travelling aboard the Ocean Lady cargo ship that was headed for shore.
Canadian authorities seized the vessel and took the men into custody at a Vancouver-area correctional centre. They have remained there as they await individual hearings from the Immigration and Refugee Board.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has said he wants all 76 migrants detained until their identities are known.
Members of the Tamil-Canadian community have said the men have risked their lives to escape persecution and violence in Sri Lanka, where the fallout from a lengthy civil war has left hundreds of thousands stranded in detention camps months after the years-long conflict ended.
Human rights lawyer Lee Rankin told CTV's Canada AM that he has met with a number of the men that came to Canada aboard the Ocean Lady, and they have indicated they wish to make a case to stay here.
"From the people I've talked to, all of them intended to come to Canada, all of them intend to make refugee claims and attempt to settle in Canada," he said in a telephone interview from Burnaby, B.C.
"They are being held in custody, but...they are no different than the thousands and thousands of other Tamils who have migrated to Canada and they are fleeing a brutal conflict that lasted almost 30 years."
So far, the government has not publicly announced if any of the would-be migrants have terror ties, though several Canadian news reports say that at least one of the men -- 26-year-old Kartheepan Manickavasagar -- is wanted for terrorism in Sri Lanka.
The man's lawyer, however, told the Globe that "a lot of innocent Tamils are being persecuted by the government and accused of all kinds of things."
Rankin said the men who came to Canada are being viewed with suspicion by the Sri Lankan government simply because of their age and ethnic background.
"I think the primary concern is there has been a brutal civil war in Sri Lanka and these men all appear to be ethnic Tamils. And like in any conflict, young men bare the brunt, they are often recruited by rebel forces, or in this case, since they have been defeated, they are viewed with suspicion and hostility by the government." Rankin said.
"None of these young men are to be concerned about that I've talked to," he added.
With files from The Canadian Press
