islamist extremists: But unlike the thousands of refugees fleeing violence in Syria who were greeted by flashing cameras and intense public exposure, the Yazidis have been entering the country with no fanfare, according to The Waterloo Record. That won't change, say government officials who are protecting the identity of the asylum seekers because of just how vulnerable they are. Related Stories Facts about the plight of the... Nearly 400 Yazidi refugees and other survivors of Islamist extremists have already been accepted over the last four months, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said in announcing the initiative, which is expected to cost 28 million. Some of these women haven't even told their own families about what they experienced at the hands of their persecutors, associate deputy immigration minister Dawn Edlund told a news conference alongside Hussen. Hussen wouldn't detail the experiences the Yazidis have endured, encouraging reporters to instead seek out the information from United Nations reports that have chronicled their fate at the hands of extremists bent on genocide. Others are worried that, should their identities be revealed, the family members and friends they've left behind will face retribution, she said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

official border: The tactic is a way to avoid the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, which prevents most people who have been living in the United States from making a refugee claim at an official border crossing on the premise they are already somewhere safe, according to National Observer. By crossing illegally, they're able to make that claim in Canada. In recent weeks, more and more people have flowed illegally across the border into Canada as U.S. President Donald Trump moves to crack down on illegal immigration and imposes new restrictions on refugees. In some cases, these people have family or friends in the community in Montreal, in other cases they'll head to Toronto or they'll go to organizations that deal with asylum-seekers like the YMCA, said Montreal immigration lawyer Stephane Handfield. There's no doubt it's touching, so we try to make their misery as short as possible, RCMP Staff Sgt. Federal authorities first take them to a Canada Border Services Agency building in nearby Lacolle, Que., where they are processed and can file a refugee claim. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rugby tournament: Newcomers to the tournament Japan's Sunwolves, Argentina's Jaguares and South Africa's Kings occupied the bottom rungs on the competition ladder and the integrity of the conference system, made necessary by a larger number of teams, was undermined by an unexpected weakening of teams in Australia and South Africa, according to The Waterloo Record. That resulted in teams forfeiting home playoff advantages to others that had performed less well during the regular season and in teams reaching the playoffs whose regular season records hardly justified that reward. The sudden expansion of the competition last year from 15 to 18 teams was unsettling to fans who saw playing standards drop in what had previously been regarded as the world's best professional rugby tournament. The glowing example was the Cape Town-based Stormers who finished top of their African conference but were beaten 60-21 at home in the playoffs by the Hamilton-based Chiefs, who were only the third-best New Zealand team. They have floated plans for further expansion into Asia and for forays into the United States and eventually Britain where Super Rugby would presume to take on established and popular domestic competitions. Tournament organizers SANZAAR have argued expansion is an unavoidable necessity, saying the commercial viability of the competition depends on its growth now and in the future, to retain the interest of broadcasters and to build its fan base. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

trump: It's true that Sweden, which prides itself on welcoming newcomers, is seeing a new kind of urban unrest, according to Brandon Sun. The combination of the country's open-door policy and comparatively heterogeneous culture has led to frictions, especially in areas where many long-time immigrants feel disempowered. For U.S. President Donald Trump and his supporters, however, the episode appeared to confirm Trump's vague observation two days earlier that the Scandinavian country was at risk of becoming a breeding ground for extremist attacks. Yet its problems with crime, poverty and violence are no greater and potentially much less than in the United States and other countries with home-grown gangs as well as waves of new arrivals and Trump's focus on Swedish issues has left many people there puzzled. Rioters threw rocks at police, set cars on fire and looted shops, but no one was injured. This week's trouble started when police arrested a drug crime suspect in Rinkeby late Monday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

yazidi refugees: But unlike the thousands of refugees fleeing violence in Syria who were greeted by flashing cameras and intense public exposure, the Yazidis have been entering the country with no fanfare, according to Brandon Sun. That won't change, say government officials who are protecting the identity of the asylum seekers because of just how vulnerable they are. Nearly 400 Yazidi refugees and other survivors of Islamist extremists have already been accepted over the last four months, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said in announcing the initiative, which is expected to cost 28 million. Related Items ArticlesMP Tony Clement hangs up during live CBC interview about asylum seekers Some of these women haven't even told their own families about what they experienced at the hands of their persecutors, associate deputy immigration minister Dawn Edlund told a news conference alongside Hussen. Hussen wouldn't detail the experiences the Yazidis have endured, encouraging reporters to instead seek out the information from United Nations reports that have chronicled their fate at the hands of extremists bent on genocide. Others are worried that, should their identities be revealed, the family members and friends they've left behind will face retribution, she said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

asylum seekers: Mayor Denis Coderre said the move is more than symbolic and will help protect and assist the most vulnerable without compromising security, according to CBC. The designation comes as the province is dealing with an increase in the number of asylum seekers crossing the border illegally from the United States. The motion includes provisions to ensure undocumented people can obtain services without fear of deportation. Quebec sees biggest increase in illegal crossings from U.S., RCMP says Solidarity Across Borders, a Montreal-based human rights organization, welcomed the idea but said the city needs to take steps beyond what it called easy symbolism. It wants that practice stopped. The group said Montreal police routinely arrest undocumented migrants and hand them over to the Canada Border Services Agency. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

enforcement agents: Kelly outlines plans to hire thousands of additional enforcement agents, expand on the priority list for immigrants marked for immediate removal and enlist local law enforcement to help make arrests, according to a person briefed on the documents, who confirmed the details to The Associated Press, according to The Waterloo Record. The surge of illegal immigration at the southern border has overwhelmed federal agencies and resources and has created a significant national security vulnerability to the United States, Kelly wrote. The memos dated Friday seek to implement President Donald Trump's broad directive to crack down on illegal immigration. He said apprehensions on the southern U.S. border had seen an additional surge of 10,000 to 15,000 per month from 2015 to 2016. The program has protected about 750,000 immigrants since its inception in 2012. The memos leave in place one directive from the Obama administration, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows young people who were brought into the country illegally as children to stay and obtain work permits. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

islamophobia motion: The I Am A Muslim Too event was held in Times Square and was organized by several groups, including the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, according to Brandon Sun. Related Items ArticlesMP Tony Clement hangs up during live CBC interview about asylum seekers Muslim leader says Tory opposition to Islamophobia motion is stoking prejudice Some protesters waved American flags, while others held signs saying No Muslim Ban. More than a thousand people of various faiths rallied in New York City on Sunday. Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke at the peaceful rally, saying we have to dispel the stereotypes and that America is a country founded to protect all faiths and all beliefs. He also has called for a temporary ban on people entering the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries. Trump has initiated a crackdown on illegal immigration. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

items articlesmp: Dhina said he'd heard of the desperate mid-winter border crossings by Africans seeking refugee status in southern Manitoba, as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes to bring in an immigration ban targeting seven majority Muslim countries, according to Brandon Sun. Related Items ArticlesMP Tony Clement hangs up during live CBC interview about asylum seekers The 39-year-old father said it saddens him to see the increasing challenges for refugees, and the opposition growing in some nations. It was the end of a long trek for the Ethiopian refugees, who were aware of the moment's particular poignancy. They are closing a lot of countries .... It is very difficult for them. They will be jailed or killed. If they are going back to their original country, it will be dangerous for them. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian jurisdiction: The designation means undocumented refugees will have full access to local services regardless of their situation, with the city following in the footsteps of Toronto, Hamilton and London, Ont, according to Toronto Star. Mayor Denis Coderre told reporters he felt compelled to act because of events south of the border. Ryan Remiorz / THE CANADIAN PRESS By Sidhartha Banerjee The Canadian Press Mon., Feb. 20, 2017 Montreal city council passed a motion Monday making it the latest Canadian jurisdiction to declare itself a sanctuary city for non-status immigrants. Read more Canada-U.S. border the final frontier for refugee-seekers Article Continued Below Toronto declared sanctuary city' to non-status migrants Hamilton declares itself sanctuary city' for undocumented immigrants One of the reasons I've done that is clearly because of what's happening in the United States and what I'm witnessing in Europe, Coderre said. react-empty 158 In recent weeks, more and more people have flowed illegally across the U.S. border into Canada as President Donald Trump cracks down on illegal immigration and imposes new restrictions on refugees. Given that current context, several Canadian cities have expressed interest in adopting similar motions, including Ottawa, Saskatoon and Regina. Canada Border Services Agency says 452 people filed a claim for refugee asylum at Quebec-U.S. land border crossings in January. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

entrepreneurship arts: The Awards Gala takes place on Mar. 10 at The Westin in downtown Calgary, and is emceed by the Homstretch's Doug Dirks, according to CBC. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Immigrant Services Calgary website. Awards are presented in the categories of Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Arts and Culture; Youth Scholarships; Community Service; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math STEM ; Organizational Diversity; Lifetime Achievement and Achievement Under 35. Immigrant Services Calgary ISC is a comprehensive settlement agency that works together with newcomers and their families to make Canada home. Over the past 39 years, ISC has worked to assist immigrants and their families in participating fully in an integrated and cohesive Canadian society. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

executive director: We're well beyond a small minority or a fringe minority point right now, Kurl said, according to Huffington Post Canada. We're now into significant minorities of people. There has been a growing number of Canadians expressing concern over both the speed and the amount of refugees being resettled in Canada, Shachi Kurl, executive director of the Angus Reid Institute, told The Huffington Post Canada in an interview. President Trump banned resettlement of Syrian refugees in the U.S. indefinitely last month. In response, the Canadian government announced it would stand firm on its previous plan to resettle a total of 40,000 refugees this year, including 25,000 from Syria. In the same executive order, the president also barred people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the country for 120 days. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration ban: Dhina said he'd heard of the desperate mid-winter border crossings by Africans seeking refugee status in southern Manitoba, as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes to bring in an immigration ban targeting seven majority Muslim countries, according to Hamilton Spectator. The 39-year-old father said it saddens him to see the increasing challenges for refugees, and the opposition growing in some nations. It was the end of a long trek for the Ethiopian refugees, who were aware of the moment's particular poignancy. They are closing a lot of countries ... It is very difficult for them. They will be jailed or killed. If they are going back to their original country, it will be dangerous for them. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigration minister: It will ensure people without status or documentation will not be reported to federal authorities when they receive city services - and they will have access to those services, including city-funded shelters, housing and food banks, according to CTV. The motion was put forward by Mayor Denis Coderre, who formerly served as Canada's immigration minister. The declaration was adopted unanimously by Montreal city council on Monday afternoon. We can straighten up that situation and find a way to address the undocumented, said Coderre. We can provide health care, housing, integration. Coderre said he thinks it's time for Montreal to offer more. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

refugee: The numbers include those seeking asylum at official points of entry, and those stopped by police after crossing in remote locations, according to Hamilton Spectator. There were seven refugee claimants in each year between 2011 and 2013, four in 2014 and only two in 2015. According to figures released by the Canadian Border Services Agency, there were 23 refugee claimants at the border in 2016 more than the previous four years combined. According to the border agency, there was one refugee claimant at the New Brunswick border last month. LeBlanc said he's at a loss to explain the spike in the numbers last year. The driving force behind a lot of people coming to Canada either immigrating through established streams of coming as refugees is that they want a safe place to live and raise their family, said Alex LeBlanc, executive director of the New Brunswick Multicultural Council. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

saturday rally: Experts disagree, according to Toronto Star. Joe Raedle / GETTY IMAGES By Rick Noack The Washington Post Mon., Feb. 20, 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump caused confusion during a Saturday rally in Florida when he said You look at what's happening last night in Sweden. At the rally, Trump seemed to imply that European countries that have taken in refugees have experienced crime wave. Sweden, who would believe this Trump then mentioned the French cities of Nice and Paris and the Belgian capital, Brussels. Although Trump did not explicitly say it, his remarks were widely perceived in the United States and abroad as suggesting that an attack had occurred Friday night in Sweden. The three European cities were all attacked by terrorists over the past two years. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugees: Related stories Afraid of deportation under Trump, refugees brave the cold, escape to B.C. Fear of the Trump government' driving more asylum-seekers to B.C. on foot Peace Arch border rally features those impacted by Trump travel ban An Angus Reid Institute survey of 1,508 Canadians discovered that one-in-four would actually support a Donald Trump-style ban on accepting Syrian refugees into the country, according to Metro News. That stands in contrast to the widely shared photographs this weekend of smiling Canadian police officers carrying asylum-seeking children across the border less widely shared were subsequent images of the same officers arresting and handcuffing some of the refugees. But while some have dismissed as fringe some of the party's leading candidates to replace ex-Prime Minister Stephen Harper, notably immigration critics Kellie Leitch and Kevin O'Leary, a new opinion poll suggests the sentiment is more widely shared by Canadians than previously thought. It appears that not all Canadians are welcoming of the newcomers. And two-in-five of those polled, or 38 per cent, believed that many people in their community would not be welcoming to a refugee family, according to the Feb. 6-9 poll released overnight on Monday. More than half, for instance, agreed with the statement Too many refugees don't make enough of an effort to fit into mainstream Canadian society. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

times square: The I Am A Muslim Too event was held in Times Square and was organized by several groups, including the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, according to CTV. Some protesters waved American flags, while others held signs saying No Muslim Ban. More than a thousand people of various faiths rallied in New York City on Sunday. Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke at the peaceful rally, saying we have to dispel the stereotypes and that America is a country founded to protect all faiths and all beliefs. He also has called for a temporary ban on people entering the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries. Trump has initiated a crackdown on illegal immigration. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

travel: Still stressed after all these years School researcher dismayed by lack of progress When teachers talk Why CBC gathered 30 teachers to take us Inside the Classroom When she is working with students in the city, she thinks about the kids she's missing in the outer regions, according to CBC. It's an imperfect system, she said, and one where travel demands leave students without proper help. Each time Cathy Anstey hits the road to travel to a different school, she thinks about the kids she could be helping closer to home. It's very difficult to go home after a day and really feel good about what you've done because we know we're doing so much less than what they need, she said. She is also responsible for other schools, including one 30 minutes away with just one child. Anstey works in a city school with 28 children who require ESL instruction. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

liberties association: The contested allegations are the latest in a protracted battle between the maximum-security inmate, who has spent a total of more than 12 years in segregation during stints at numerous institutions around the country, and prison authorities, who appear to be at a loss about how to deal with him, according to The Waterloo Record. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association wrote Bobbi Sandhu, the warden of Kent Institution in Agassiz, B.C., to express its concerns about Nome's most recent prolonged stretch in segregation 130 days and his abhorrent treatment by prison staff. Timothy Nome, 42, who is serving an indeterminate sentence for punching a guard years ago, also claims correctional officers at the prison in British Columbia deliberately poured pig lard onto his kosher food and that authorities are denying him access to the courts. In the December letter, obtained by The Canadian Press, the association calls on Sandhu to investigate Nome's claim that he has been unable to take several grievances to court because authorities wouldn't allow him paper, a printer, or access to the prison law library. The association said it had not had any response to its letter. These are matters of utmost importance, the CCLA letter states. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

safety critic: TonyclementCPC https //t.co/MVqj72ci De Michelle Rempel, MP Michelle Rempel February 19, 2017Clement, who is the public safety critic for the Conservatives, tweeted his support for Rempel's comments, according to National Observer. Illegal crossings are unsafe and a burden on local communities. The government must respond to this situation in a way that keeps Canadians safe, and sends a strong message to those considering an illegal crossing that there are proper channels to do this, Rempel wrote.4/ The government must respond to this situation in a way that keeps Canadians safe, and sends a strong message to those considering... https //t.co/ekT73V7kYO Michelle Rempel, MP Michelle Rempel February 19, 20175/ an illegal crossing that there are proper channels to do this. Our laws should be enforced, he wrote. Our laws should be enforced. Illegal crossings are unsafe and a burden on local communities. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sanctuary city: One of the reasons I've done that is clearly because of what's happening in the United States and what I'm witnessing in Europe, Coderre said, according to National Observer. In recent weeks, more and more people have flowed illegally across the U.S. border into Canada as President Donald Trump cracks down on illegal immigration and imposes new restrictions on refugees. Mayor Denis Coderre told reporters he felt compelled to act because of events south of the border. Canada Border Services Agency says 452 people filed a claim for refugee asylum at Quebec-U.S. land border crossings in January. Toronto became Canada's first sanctuary city in 2013. Given that current context, several Canadian cities have expressed interest in adopting similar motions, including Ottawa, Saskatoon and Regina. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

textile stalls: It will increase rather than decrease ... This is not going to reduce, according to National Observer. At Minneapolis's Karmel Square Somali Mall, a labyrinthine market of textile stalls and tea shops with a mosque upstairs, virtually every vendor had a television tuned to 24-hour news channels running Trump's wild Thursday news conference. Sometimes when you're left with no options and you're looking for a better life for yourself, people do take risks, said Mohamud Noor, executive director of the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota. When asked what they thought of the man on the screen, many of the men gathered around shook their heads or scoffed. We know a lot of good things about Canadian people, said Mahamed Cali, who runs a local Somali-language radio station. Quizzed on their views on Canada, however, and many heaped praise on Trudeau and pointed out that his immigration minister, Ahmed Hussen, was once a Somali refugee. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

times square: The I Am A Muslim Too event was held in Times Square and was organized by several groups, including the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, according to The Waterloo Record. Some protesters waved American flags, while others held signs saying No Muslim Ban. More than a thousand people of various faiths rallied in New York City on Sunday. Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke at the peaceful rally, saying we have to dispel the stereotypes and that America is a country founded to protect all faiths and all beliefs. He also has called for a temporary ban on people entering the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries. Trump has initiated a crackdown on illegal immigration. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

asylum: Janzen said he's done 95 television interviews over the last two weeks, according to CBC. Before that he'd only done one, a dozen years ago. The small border town of 671 has been galvanized to help asylum seekers, and the issue has certainly put the community on the map, attracting media attention from across the globe. But as the number of asylum seekers continues to surge, it's beginning to put a strain on local resources and raise some security concerns over potential risks to the residents, he said. Full coverage Refugees at the Canada-U.S. border Dozens of aslyum seekers, baby, cross into Manitoba Sunday So far, the asylum seekers have caused no trouble, and there have been no confrontations. It's starting to get concerning, because the numbers are growing, Janzen said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

city politicians: Vancouver's Trump International Hotel and Tower has transformed into a potent symbol of Trump's candidacy and presidency, observers say, according to CTV. Protests over U.S. policy inevitably end up on its doorstep and provincial and city politicians have said the Trump name doesn't represent Vancouver. A lot has changed since then. It's more than a beacon of racism, said Coun. It's a beacon of intolerance. Kerry Jang, who has urged the developer to drop the Trump brand. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.