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.
Vox – The Unique Plight of Unauthorized LGBT Immigrants
Last year, Alfonso Moreno-Gonzales was living as an openly gay man in the US. Today, Moreno, a 32-year-old from Mexico, keeps his sexual orientation a secret out of fear for his life — simply because he was deported back to Mexico. “You can’t express yourself the way you are” in Mexico, Moreno said. “If you are just walking in the street, it can be dangerous for your health.” President Barack Obama on Thursday announced executive actions protecting an additional 4.3 million unauthorized immigrants from deportation. But the order leaves out 6 million immigrants — and for the LGBT population among the unprotected, the threat of deportation can pose an actual threat to their lives. Moreno likely wouldn’t qualify for Obama’s executive actions on immigration. […] There is a chance Moreno could qualify for asylum if he can prove he’s part of a persecuted social group. But the immigration judge who heard Moreno’s case said his situation amounted to “discrimination and harassment,” not “persecution.” The judge also argued circumstances in Mexico have improved for LGBT individuals since Moreno lived there.
Global News – Behind Closed Doors, Feds Decide to Keep Iranian Refugee Claimant in Jail
In a hearing held Monday without his lawyer, family or surety present, a representative of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board assented to a federal lawyer’s request to keep Masoud Hajivand behind bars. Hajivand has never committed – or been accused – of a crime. But he’s been held in various Ontario jails since June 27 – and will stay behind bars in for at least another month. Lawyers representing the Canada Border Services Agency argue he should be locked up because he’s a “flight risk” – even though Hajivand has been living at the same address, and working at the same job, and filing taxes, for years. Canada is trying to deport him to Iran, where Hajivand and his supporters are terrified he faces death or imprisonment because of his conversion to Christianity while in Canada. While Hajivand’s hearing proceeded inside the CBSA detention centre in northwest Toronto, family members, a friend willing to offer surety, an electronic monitoring bracelet expert and a reporter waited outside, unaware it had started. Hajivand’s common-law spouse, Pam Shiraldini, had planned to make a case for bail, but he was forced to do so himself by video link, unsuccessfully. “It just looks like it was a mixup,” said Charles Hawkins, a spokesperson for the Immigration and Refugee Board.
Vancouver 24 Hours – UBC Email Warns Student Protesters of Expulsion
The University of B.C. has retracted an email that warned of expulsion and deportation for international students arrested at the Trans Mountain pipeline protests. In an email sent to 250 students in the university’s forestry department, a faculty representative warned of “serious repercussions” for those on temporary study visas. “It (arrest) would mean an immediate end to your studies at UBC and could also mean immediate deportation since this would be considered a criminal conviction,” read the email, which was leaked on social media. Linking arrest with expulsion was problematic for the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. While breaking the law and criminal charges can affect immigration status, executive director Josh Paterson questioned why the university would treat arrest as a criminal offense. […] The university has since issued a statement calling the email “well intended” but factually inaccurate and apologized for any confusion it may have caused.
Radio Canada international – Le Québec pourrait faire fuir les étudiants internationaux
Les étudiants internationaux pourraient faire les frais d’une modulation des frais de scolarité dévolue aux universités québécoises. C’est ce que redoute la Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ). Le regroupement étudiant craint les universités de la province ne soient préoccupées que les « perspectives de revenus supplémentaires et non sur l’apport positif des étudiants internationaux pour le Québec ». C’est que, la Commission de révision permanente des programmes présidée par l’ancienne ministre libérale Lucienne Robillard considère que le financement de la formation des étudiants internationaux devrait être révisé. La Commission, qui a notamment pour mandat d’aider Québec à atteindre ses objectifs budgétaires de l’exercice 2015-2016, observe que le financement gouvernemental de la formation des étudiants universitaires internationaux est passé de 184,3 millions de dollars en 2011-2012 à 252,1 millions de dollars en 2014-2015. Cela correspond à une hausse de près de 37 % en quatre ans et à une croissance annuelle de 11 %.
FCFA – Communiqué – Déclaration conjointe de l’Ontario et du Québec sur la francophonie canadienne : un appui significatif pour la survie de Radio-Canada et l’essor de l’immigration francophone
La Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA) du Canada tient à saluer le leadership des gouvernements de l’Ontario et du Québec, qui ont signé vendredi une déclaration conjointe sur l’importance de la francophonie comme élément fondamental du progrès et du succès futur du Canada. La FCFA trouve rafraîchissant de voir les gouvernements des deux provinces s’engager, en autant de détail, quant à la promotion et à la protection de la francophonie. La Fédération apprécie notamment de la prise de position ferme des deux gouvernements sur deux enjeux qui préoccupent grandement les communautés : la survie de CBC/Radio-Canada et le dossier de l’immigration francophone. « On ne surprendra personne en disant que la FCFA est inquiète quant à l’avenir des médias francophones, notamment Radio-Canada. Si la SRC venait à disparaître, ce serait la fin de la programmation locale en français à la télé dans la grande majorité de nos communautés. Cela nous aide beaucoup que les premiers ministres de l’Ontario et du Québec s’unissent pour presser le gouvernement fédéral de fournir un soutien au diffuseur public pour lui permettre de s’acquitter de son mandat en français partout au pays », déclare la présidente de la FCFA, Marie-France Kenny.
London Free Press – Study Showing London is a Tough Place for Immigrants to Find Housing is Bad News for a City Reliant on Newcomers for Growth
Immigrants find it tougher to find affordable housing in London than in every major city but one in Canada. Only in Toronto do a higher ratio of immigrants have it worse, a new Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. report says. London ranks tougher than 33 other cities on the list, which ranges from Vancouver to Halifax, and includes dozens of Ontario urban centres competing for workers and booming cities in Western Canada. While London’s high profile on the list is bad news for a city increasingly reliant on newcomers for growth, its ranking doesn’t surprise immigration or housing analysts. “Affordable housing is a concern for many people, not just immigrants, said Huda Hussein, project co-ordinator for the London and Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership. But immigrants coming to London face another barrier, she said. “People who come here as permanent residents find it difficult to find housing in the beginning.” That especially true for rentals because of the barrier of needing a co-signer” for leases, Hussein said. […] The local immigration partnership has begun working with city landlords to find a solution, Hussein said.
