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Immigration and Refugee Law

Selwyn Pieters is a former Refugee Protection Officer at the Ontario Regional Office of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. He has participated in hundreds of refugee claims from around the world including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Grenada, Iraq, Iran, Laos, Lebanon, Mexico, Myammar, Korea (North and South), Pakistan, Phillipines, St. Vincent, Thailand, Turkey, United States of America, and Vietnam. His experience includes hundreds of refugee claims hearings (expedited and regular).

From June 17 to 21 2002 , Selwyn acted as a facilitator for Team 6 (Asia) for the National Training Session of the Refugee Protection Division on the implementation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. His co-facilitator was Michel Hamelin, an RPD Member from Montreal . In addition, Selwyn has been asked to and agreed to present on various topics and issues at team 6 meetings and meetings of the team 6 interpreters. Selwyn has also served as a Member of the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee.

Selwyn has mentored new RPOs, have coordinated visits to the IRB for law students doing Immigration and Refugee case work at Osgoode Hall Law School , Community and Legal Aid Services Program (CLASP), University of Toronto , Faculty of Law, Downtown Legal Clinic, Monash University ( Australia ).

Selwyn participated in the Intensive Programme in Immigration and Refugee Law at Osgoode Hall Law School during which time he was involved in two internships, the first at the Legal Services Branch of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, in Toronto, and the second with the European Council on Refugee and Exiles in London, England.

Selwyn worked as a Court Registrar/Registry Officer at the Federal Court of Canada and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice prior to beginning law school.

Selwyn is equiped to render independent legal advise to refugee claimants and/or provide training and consultation services to lawyers appearing before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

Refugee Law Cases:

Convention cases, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes, Cessation of Refugee Status, Consolidated Grounds - Risk to Life, Cruel or Unusual Treatment or Punishment, Danger of Torture.

Significant Cases include:

• Zheng v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) [2004] R.P.D.D. No. 275; upheld Zheng v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) 2005 FC 619
• Li [2003] R.P.D.D. No. 653
• V.T.J. (Re) [2003] R.P.D.D. No. 303
• Song Dae Ri (Re) 2003 CarswellNat 4527; (2004) 36 Imm. L.R. (3d) 203
• Liang (Re) 2002 CarswellNat 4719; 33 Imm. L.R. (3d) 251
• O.M.R. (Re) [2001] C.R.D.D. No. 135
• Z.T.C. (Re) [2000] C.R.D.D. No. 227
• D.E.P. (Re) [2000] C.R.D.D. No. 204

Immigration Law Cases

Ottley v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2006 FC 65)

Selwyn publication on refugee law issues includes:

• "Assessment of credibility in the context of a Refugee Protection Division Hearing is not an exact science - it is the art that makes or breaks a Refugee claim", (2004), 31 Imm. L.R. (3d) 32
• Case Comment: The Effect of M.C.I. v. Davis on Removal Orders for Permanent Residents of Canada, (2003), 29 Imm. L.R. (3d) 32
• Romans v. Canada: A Case Comment on the Jurisdiction of the Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board to Consider Charter Challenges attacking the validity of a removal order, (2003), 25 Imm. L.R. (3d) 12
• The U.K. Asylum Determination System: Is there a need for it In Canada?, (2003), 26 Imm. L.R. (3d) 197
• "Religious Minorities and the Refugee Determination Process in Toronto, Canada: An Analysis of the Treatment of Refugee Claims Based on the Tian Dao Practice and Belief"