The Media Roundup provides links to recent and archived articles, in both English and French, on immigration and diversity appearing in the national and local news. Some international content is also included. Articles are updated weekly.
CBC News – Federal Government Expands Communications Outreach to Hispanics in U.S. to Curb Asylum Surge
A Liberal MP is heading to Los Angeles this week for a pre-emptive strike against misinformation about Canada’s immigration system circulating in the Spanish-language press that officials worry could inspire a new wave of asylum seekers. Central Americans have long been thought of as the next population primed to make the journey across the Canada-U.S. border due to major changes on the horizon in U.S. immigration policy. That includes the potential end of temporary protected status for nearly 350,000 Salvadorans and Hondurans, meaning all could face deportation to their home countries.
New York Times – In Canada, an Immigration Minister Who Himself Is a Refugee
He arrived in Toronto, an exhausted 16-year-old, carrying nothing but a small gym bag packed with a change of clothes. Over the next 25 years, he put himself through college and law school, worked his way up from pouring coffee to advising one of the country’s most powerful leaders and was elected the first Somali-Canadian member of Parliament. Last January, he set another milestone for refugees to Canada: Ahmed Hussen was named the country’s immigration czar, the first refugee in that powerful cabinet position.
CBC News – Ontario University Offers $60,000 Scholarship to Students Affected by Trump’s DACA Decision
Huron University College is offering $60,000 scholarships to students affected by President Donald Trump’s decision to rescind a controversial immigration policy. Barry Craig, who is the principal of Huron, said the school is ready to help in any way it can. Eddie Kadri, an immigration lawyer from Windsor, Ontario, said the idea is well intended but students who wish to apply for the scholarship may be faced with complex roadblocks.
Globe and Mail – Russia to Probe Canada’s Aid to Gay Chechens Fleeing Persecution
A Russian official has warned that if Canada violated Russian law by bringing homosexual Chechens to Canada as refugees, there will be consequences. Kirill Kalinin, who is a spokesman for the Russian embassy in Ottawa, said of the Canadian underground railroad operating in his country: “Any legal irregularities, if proven true, shall be duly investigated.” He made the comment in an e-mail to The Globe and Mail, and declined to elaborate on what laws might have been violated.
CBC News – Canada Should Welcome up to 30,000 DACA Young People Facing Deportation in U.S., Senator Says
Canada could gain from the Trump administration’s decision to end a program that has allowed young, undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States for years, says Ontario Independent Sen. Ratna Omidvar. “These individuals are low-hanging fruit for us,” Omidvar told host Rosemary Barton. “They speak fluent English, they’ve been educated in the U.S., most of them have been to college or university, some of them have work experience.”
Globe and Mail – Federal Government Works to Clarify Immigration Policies for Public
The federal government is laying the groundwork for an attempt to dissuade more diaspora groups in the United States from fleeing to Canada, replicating a recent outreach effort to dispel rumours that drew thousands of Haitian asylum seekers in recent months. The outreach, which will take place over the coming weeks, will also include “multilingual communities” in Canada, spokesman Hursh Jaswal said.
