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.
Winnipeg Free Press – After the Border
Winnipeg immigration lawyer Alastair Clarke also disputed the notion the country’s security is being put at risk by allowing asylum seekers — whether they enter the country legally or not. “There’s no evidence of that at all,” Clarke said. “As far as I’m concerned, the rhetoric that the refugee claimants who are crossing the border pose security risk or national risk is unfounded. And generally speaking, any reports that point fingers of potential security risks… turn out to be unfounded or grossly exaggerated.”
CTV News – Fact Check: How are Refugee Claimants Vetted in Canada?
Recent calls for a crackdown on the system are unnecessary given that all refugee claimants, regardless of where they “show up” along the border, are subject to extensive screening in Canada, says Sharryn Aiken, law professor at Queen’s University and an expert on immigration and refugee law. Whether crossing an unguarded border or coming from overseas, no one gets a “free pass” coming into Canada, Aiken said, because asylum-seekers aren’t allowed to pursue a refugee claim until a screening is completed.
CTV News – UN Agency Monitoring Refugee Situation at Canada-U.S. Border
The United Nations refugee agency is keeping a careful eye on the situation at informal crossings along the Canada-U-S border where dozens of people have been arriving in recent weeks in search of asylum. However, it’s the perception of what’s happening rather than the reality that troubles the agency’s representative in Ottawa, who spent a day observing people making their way through one such crossing in Quebec. Jean-Nicolas Beuze points to a risk that a false public narrative could form around whether Canada has the capacity to deal with an influx of new refugees.
Toronto Star – Refugee Vetting in U.S. and Canada Already “Extreme,” Experts Say
Despite the general impression that Canada has more tolerant and lax border security than its neighbour to the south, experts on both sides of the border say the countries have similar security screening processes to keep suspected terrorists and criminals out. […] “We’ve had a very close partnership with Canada. Canadians are our trusted counterparts. Obviously there’s a tremendous amount of information-sharing between our intelligence and law enforcement services,” said John Sandweg, former acting general counsel to the Department of Homeland Security and former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Toronto Star – High Fees Blamed for Sharp Decrease in Canadian Citizenship Applications
The number of immigrants applying for citizenship has plunged by a whopping 50 per cent at the same time as Ottawa has stripped a record number of Canadians of their citizenship. According to the latest data from the Immigration Department, only 56,446 new citizenship applications were received in the first nine months of last year, a sharp decline from the 111,993 during the same period in 2015.
Courier-Journal – Muhammad Ali Jr. Questioned by Immigration Officials at Florida Airport
The son of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali was detained for hours by immigration officials at a Florida airport, a family friend told the Courier-Journal. Muhammad Ali Jr., 44, and his mother Khalilah Camacho-Ali, the second wife of Muhammad Ali, were arriving at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Feb. 7 after returning from speaking at a Black History Month event in Montego Bay, Jamaica. They were pulled aside while going through customs because of their Arabic-sounding names, according to family friend and lawyer Chris Mancini.
