Pubdate: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Cynthia Low 'IT'S A SHAME DEPORTEES AREN'T ESCORTED TO PLANE' The Wednesday Province articles on missing immigrants and foreign drug dealers involved in recent police sweeps blended two separate issues together. As far as I know, most of the foreigners living and working illegally in Canada are Americans, which makes an estimation of the numbers much more difficult. In regards to the foreign drug dealers, many of these individuals are at the bottom of the drug food chain and can easily be replaced in the supply-and-demand nature of the drug industry. Many of them are addicted, with complex mental-health and settlement issues that may be a direct result of their experience with wars, forced displacement and civil unrest. As a proud Canadian and "model" immigrant, I hope that we strive to deal with the root of our social circumstances in a compassionate and humanistic manner by providing adequate support services for those suffering from addiction. The overemphasis on law enforcement and policing merely masks the real problems. Cynthia Low, Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Alex