climate shifts: Beth Brown, pastor of Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, the first Chicago house of worship since the election to offer immigrants who are facing deportation a place to stay, according to The Waterloo Record. There are now about two dozen in the Chicago area considering becoming part of the sanctuary movement. When Trump was elected, it turned into an immediate priority situation, said the Rev. As the political climate shifts, immigration activists say the nature of the sanctuary movement could change. Historically aimed at changing policies through public campaigns and protest, the sanctuary movement could be forced underground. Though federal authorities say they will continue to avoid raiding hospitals, schools and houses of worship, activists fear that sacred spaces could become targets under the new administration. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

friday showdown: And Serge Ibaka, in his first practice, speaks up, according to Toronto Star. Yesterday was the first time when guys made mistakes defensively, and a player instead of a coach said, Let's do it again. Richard Lautens / Toronto Star By Bruce Arthur Sports Columnist Fri., Feb. 24, 2017 So Serge Ibaka is a Raptor, and he's in his first practice, and the team screws up on defence. No, let's get it right,' said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey, the morning of Toronto's Friday showdown with the Boston Celtics. That's the leadership, defensive leadership, the take-command-type leadership you've got to have from players. I love it. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

homeland security: After 3days at airport, not allowed to travel to oscars2017 - had US visa - but passport not accepted, according to CBC. Sad, but important work to do here. 995Khaled Khatib was scheduled to arrive Saturday in Los Angeles on a Turkish Airlines flight departing from Istanbul. According to internal Trump administration correspondence seen by The Associated Press, the Department of Homeland Security has decided at the last minute to block Khaled Khatib from travelling to Los Angeles for the Oscars. But his plans have been upended after U.S. officials reported finding derogatory information regarding Khatib. Asked for comment, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, Gillian Christensen, said, A valid travel document is required for travel to the United States. Derogatory information is a broad category that can include anything from terror connections to passport irregularities. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

indian men: Hours later, the 51-year-old former air traffic controller reportedly told a bartender in another town that he needed a place to hide because he had just killed two Middle Eastern men, according to Toronto Star. In India, the father of one of the wounded men called Wednesday's attack in the Kansas City suburbs a hate crime, but authorities on Friday declined to discuss a motive as they investigated. The Associated Press By Jim Suhr The Associated Press Fri., Feb. 24, 2017 OLATHE, KAN. In the middle of a crowded bar, Adam Purinton yelled at two Indian men to get out of my country, witnesses said, then opened fire in an attack that killed one of the men and wounded the other, as well as a third man who tried to help. The shooting swiftly stoked fears about the treatment of immigrants, who feel targeted by U.S. President Donald Trump's promises to ban certain travellers, build a wall along the Mexico border and put America first. Witnesses say Purinton yelled Get out of my country, before opening fire on two Indian men. /react-text Henry County, Mo. Read more Distraught Indian father warns parents against sending children to U.S. after Kansas shooting Article Continued Below Kansas bar shooting that left 1 dead was racially motivated, witnesses say react-text 155 This undated photo provided by the Henry County Sheriff's Office in Clinton, Mo., shows Adam Purinton, of Olathe, Kan., who was arrested early Thursday in connection with a shooting at a bar in Olathe that left one person dead and two wounded. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

menu items: There's more craft brewers opening every day all over the place, according to The Chronicle Herald. It's generating revenue for the entire market, says Charlotte Langley, culinary curator of a trade show being put on this weekend in Toronto by Restaurants Canada. Craft beer is still trending because it's still growing. More than 560 professional chefs across the country were asked to identify the menu items and cooking methods at the peak of popularity in the association's eighth annual survey. Though charcuterie was on last year's list, Langley points to its continuing evolution. Food smoking and sous vide cooking are two techniques that cracked this year's top 10 list. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mosque: Its name is intolerance, according to Hamilton Spectator. Anti-Semitic graffiti discovered in Hamilton this week. It began as ripple and threatens us with a tsunami. Vandalism of a Jewish cemetery in Missouri last weekend. The news is rife with incidents of racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia and the apparent inability or unwillingness of humanity to understand, accept and accommodate our differences, the very thing that has made us the most successful species on the planet. An attack on a Quebec City mosque that left six people dead last month. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

power vacuum: Mugabe, a former rebel leader who took power after independence from white minority rule in 1980, declared a few days ago that most Zimbabweans think nobody can replace him, according to CTV. The longevity of the world's oldest head of state is a source of heartache for Zimbabwe's splintered opposition and uncertainty for investors, leaving the economically struggling country in limbo. Thousands of government supporters, some wearing clothing adorned with Mugabe's image, converged in Matabeleland for a birthday bash and show of strength for the ruling ZANU-PF party, beset by squabbling in the past year as the elderly president weakened and factions, one including his wife Grace, sparred ahead of an expected power vacuum. Mugabe on Saturday wore dark glasses and a multi-colored jacket bearing an image of himself in younger days, sitting impassively as speakers praised his leadership and delegates from ruling parties in Botswana, Namibia, Angola and Zambia kneeled at his chair to greet him. At one point Mugabe raised his fist in salute, but he also rested his drooping head on one hand. The Chinese ambassador read a congratulatory message from President Xi Jinping. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

processing times: Refugee influx 5 things to know about illegal border crossings into Canada It is time for the Canadian government to take back control of our immigration policy in a manner that protects Canadians, ensures our immigration policy is effective and also protects individuals fleeing persecution, according to CBC. Why do we need to do this Last year, when the government committed to accepting a record number of refugees, processing times for virtually every other immigrant stream slowed down. In a country that carefully assigns target numbers for different types of immigrants, the constant influx of refugee claimants could throw our immigration objectives out of whack. Liberals shift immigration focus to family reunification, refugee resettlement Like every government department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has a finite number of employees. Full coverage Refugees at the Canada-U.S. border In my view, the government must do three things. 1. If these employees are engaged in refugee claims, Canadians waiting for family members, friends, employees and business associates to come to Canada may face longer wait times. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rhode island: To send a message to Trump, Democrats have invited the Iraqi-American doctor who discovered elevated levels of lead in the blood of many children living in Flint, Michigan; a Pakistani-born doctor who delivers critical care to patients in Rhode Island; and an American-born daughter of Palestinian refugees who aids people like her family in their quest to come to the United States, according to The Chronicle Herald. I want Trump to see the face of a woman, the face of a Muslim, and the face of someone whose family has enriched and contributed to this country despite starting out as refugees, said Rep. Lawmakers typically get one guest ticket apiece for presidential addresses, as they will for Tuesday's prime-time speech, and the invites often go to family, friends or someone from back home. Luis Guti rrez, D-Ill., whose guest Tuesday will be Fidaa Rashid, a Chicago immigration attorney. The order sparked worldwide confusion about who was covered by the edict, with thousands gathering at airports and in other settings to protest. Soon after taking office, Trump issued an executive order temporarily banning all entry to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority nations and pausing the entire U.S. refugee program. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

talent: Jodie Foster, Michael J. Fox and Keegan-Michael Key were among the speakers at Friday's rally, organized by the United Talent Agency outside their Beverly Hills headquarters, according to Metro News. The talent agency, better known as UTA, planned the nearly two-hour United Voices rally in lieu of holding its annual Oscars party. As most of Hollywood gears up for the Oscars on Sunday and the whirlwind of events and parties this weekend, celebrities and top talent agents gathered in Beverly Hills to do something a little different rally for immigration rights. Security officials estimated there were 1,200 people in attendance. He welcomed all, including a handful of Trump supporters, because this is America, where you get to believe what you want. Key, who kicked things off, said the event was intended to support the creative community's growing concern with anti-immigration sentiment in the United States of America and its potential chilling effect on the global exchange of ideas, not to mention freedom of expression. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

toronto canada: The book, you wrote, identifies and analyzes the populist sentiments that led to the election of Rob Ford in 2010 as mayor of Toronto Canada's largest and most diverse city, according to Toronto Star. I must say, I was flattered that the former Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition had taken an interest in the book, and it brought me back to my days as a political science student in the 1990s when we admired your own upstart populist rise from Alberta to Ottawa, even if we may not have shared the same politics. SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO By Shawn Micallef Columnist Sat., Feb. 25, 2017 Dear Honourable Preston Manning,Last Monday you wrote an opinion piece for the Globe and Mail called Getting to the roots of populist uprisings, and opened with a reference to my new book, Frontier City Toronto on the Verge of Greatness. That took some gumption and vision. You correctly state that people are feeling alienated from their governments, parties and, as you call it, so-called expert advice. You made Canadian politics interesting, just as Rob Ford did for Toronto politics. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

doug mcdermott: It was the first game in a Thunder uniform for Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott, acquired Thursday in a trade with the Chicago Bulls, according to The Waterloo Record. Gibson scored 12 points and McDermott added eight, even though they arrived Thursday night and weren't even available for shootaround on Friday. Westbrook scored 17 points in his 28th triple-double of the season, and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 110-93 on Friday night. Westbrook said the newcomers handled the hectic situation well. Like pros, Westbrook said. Great, man. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

michael j: The talent agency, better known as UTA, planned the nearly two-hour United Voices rally in lieu of holding its annual Oscars party, according to Brandon Sun. Security officials estimated there were 1,200 people in attendance. Jodie Foster, Michael J. Fox and Keegan-Michael Key were among the speakers at Friday's rally, organized by the United Talent Agency outside their Beverly Hills headquarters. Key, who kicked things off, said the event was intended to support the creative community's growing concern with anti-immigration sentiment in the United States of America and its potential chilling effect on the global exchange of ideas, not to mention freedom of expression. One Trump supporter walked through the crowd in a Make America Great Again hat early on saying, You're not going to block me. He welcomed all, including a handful of Trump supporters, because this is America, where you get to believe what you want. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

people: It is one of a piece with our welcome of Hungarian refugees in 1956 and Vietnamese boat people in the later 1970s, according to The Waterloo Record. I am also opposed to racial or religious discrimination against newcomers. It is an example of the Christian idealism that has informed the heritage of this country. We have a legal system capable of dealing with this kind of behaviour. Canadians should not be muzzled from free and open inquiry and discussion of the merits and shortcomings of any religious faith in Canada, including my own. On the other hand, however, I believe MP Iqra Khalid's motion in the House of Commons as well as that proposed by Nathalie Des Rosiers at Queen's Park seeking to outlaw so-called Islamophobia is going too far. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

power vacuum: Mugabe, a former rebel leader who took power after independence from white minority rule in 1980, declared a few days ago that most Zimbabweans think nobody can replace him, according to Brandon Sun. The longevity of the world's oldest head of state is a source of heartache for Zimbabwe's splintered opposition and uncertainty for investors, leaving the economically struggling country in limbo. Thousands of government supporters, some wearing clothing adorned with Mugabe's image, converged in Matabeleland for a birthday bash and show of strength for the ruling ZANU-PF party, beset by squabbling in the past year as the elderly president weakened and factions, one including his wife Grace, sparred ahead of an expected power vacuum. Mugabe on Saturday wore dark glasses and a multi-colored jacket bearing an image of himself in younger days, sitting impassively as speakers praised his leadership and delegates from ruling parties in Botswana, Namibia, Angola and Zambia kneeled at his chair to greet him. At one point Mugabe raised his fist in salute, but he also rested his drooping head on one hand. The Chinese ambassador read a congratulatory message from President Xi Jinping. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rhode island: To send a message to Trump, Democrats have invited the Iraqi-American doctor who discovered elevated levels of lead in the blood of many children living in Flint, Michigan; a Pakistani-born doctor who delivers critical care to patients in Rhode Island; and an American-born daughter of Palestinian refugees who aids people like her family in their quest to come to the United States, according to Brandon Sun. I want Trump to see the face of a woman, the face of a Muslim, and the face of someone whose family has enriched and contributed to this country despite starting out as refugees, said Rep. Lawmakers typically get one guest ticket apiece for presidential addresses, as they will for Tuesday's prime-time speech, and the invites often go to family, friends or someone from back home. Luis Guti rrez, D-Ill., whose guest Tuesday will be Fidaa Rashid, a Chicago immigration attorney. The order sparked worldwide confusion about who was covered by the edict, with thousands gathering at airports and in other settings to protest. Soon after taking office, Trump issued an executive order temporarily banning all entry to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority nations and pausing the entire U.S. refugee program. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

anti-immigrant protests: PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP/Getty Images By Nqobile Ntshangase The Associated Press Fri., Feb. 24, 2017 PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA Police fired stun grenades, rubber bullets and a water cannon Friday as the latest wave of anti-immigrant protests broke out in South Africa's capital, while President Jacob Zuma condemned anti-foreigner violence and appealed for calm.A petition the protesters handed to the foreign ministry, seen by The Associated Press, suggested that the government teach foreigners to speak properly, according to Toronto Star. They are arrogant and they don't know how to talk to people especially Nigerians, the petition said. South African police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades to break up violent clashes between local protesters and migrants. Resentment against foreigners has sometimes turned deadly in South Africa amid accusations that they take jobs from locals in a country where unemployment is above 25 per cent. In 2015, anti-immigrant riots in and around the city of Durban killed at least six people. Others are blamed for drug-dealing and other crimes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

application system: Once the annual quota is met, the system automatically stops taking applications, according to Metro News. Even those who were lucky enough to get a confirmation number and were invited to complete the online application in seven days said they have been unable to log onto the website. Applicants complained that ontarioimmigration.ca crashed almost immediately as they scrambled to compete for one of the 6,000 spots open for 2017. According to the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, its website has received more than 117,000 visits since Tuesday when the so-called PNP program started accepting applications. We are aware that some individuals have been having difficulty with the online application system. The program was suspended last year while it was under review. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

broadcaster ndr: He didn't confirm reports by public broadcaster NDR and daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung that the figure had stood at 53 in November, according to The Chronicle Herald. It wasn't clear how many were diplomats and how many were family members, and there was no indication how many applications had been processed. At least 136 people with Turkish diplomatic passports are currently applying for asylum, said Tobias Plate, a ministry spokesman, who was responding to German media reports. The situation has caused diplomatic tension between the two countries. Germany denounced the coup attempt but has been critical of the far-reaching crackdown that followed, which saw tens of thousands of government employees lose their jobs and thousands imprisoned. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pressed Chancellor Angela Merkel at a meeting this month to reject asylum requests and extradite 40 soldiers allegedly involved in the failed July 15 coup. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian constitution: This allows folks like Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale to get away with remarkable statements like his recent pronouncement that Torture is contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it's contrary to the Canadian Constitution, it's a violation of the Criminal Code, it's inconsistent with virtually every international treaty Canada has ever signed, including the Geneva Convention s and most importantly, Canadians find it abhorrent and will never condone it, according to Rabble. Period. While a case can be made that this dissonance is apparent on many issues -- Indigenous rights, climate change, women's rights, poverty, racism, refugees and immigrants, electoral reform -- too many Canadians overlook the broken promises and embrace Trudeau simply because he is not Stephen Harper and, more recently, Donald Trump. Goodale's remarks followed Trump's ABC News interview in which the U.S. president said torture absolutely works and that his country's state security agencies need to fight fire with fire. Indeed, for decades, Canada's state security agencies have behaved exactly as if Donald Trump were their boss, playing fast and loose with the binding prohibitions against involvement in torture. While Canadians may indeed find torture abhorrent, that fact alone does not prevent the Canadian government from being up to its neck in torture complicity. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

cbc news: That application is still being processed, according to CBC. I have all the sympathy for all the refugees and everyone who wants to come Canada because Canada is definitely a better place, Shaw told CBC News. Parmeet Shaw, 43, applied through Manitoba's provincial nominee program to bring her parents to Winnipeg from India six years ago. But what about processing the files that are already in the pipeline Full coverage Refugees at the Canada-U.S. border Manitoba boosts funds for asylum seekers, calls on feds to step up Since January, about 130 asylum seekers have walked into Manitoba near Emerson. But Shaw is concerned the provincial and federal governments are not allocating enough resources to deal with the current backlog of immigration applications. Winnipeg immigration lawyer Ken Zaifman said refugee claims and sponsorship applications fall under completely separate immigration streams and the processing of one does not impact the other. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

economist i: I come from Africa and want to be an economist, according to The Chronicle Herald. I come from Tanzania and want to be a teacher. The handiwork posted outside a small classroom in the heart of Pennsylvania's Amish country hints at the ambition of the refugees studying at Phoenix Academy. I come from Cuba and want to be an architect. Yet how to help these 17- to 21-year-old high schoolers pursue the American dream even as the country debates broader immigration issues is a question dividing advocates in several federal lawsuits. Their favourite subjects are math, English and science. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

foreigners: They are arrogant and they don't know how to talk to people especially Nigerians, it said, according to CTV. Resentment against foreigners has sometimes turned deadly in South Africa amid accusations that they take jobs from locals in a country where unemployment is above 25 per cent. A petition the protesters handed to the foreign ministry, seen by The Associated Press, suggested that the government teach foreigners to speak properly. Others are blamed for drug-dealing and other crimes. In 2008, similar violence killed about 60 people. In 2015, anti-immigrant riots in and around the city of Durban killed at least six people. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

irvin abuser: Her federal public defender on Wednesday filed a petition for her immediate release, saying in court documents that a Border Patrol agent perjured himself when he wrote in an affidavit that Gonzalez was arrested outside the building when surveillance shows agents conducting the arrest inside, according to Metro News. Gonzalez, 33, is transgender and began transitioning two years ago, according to one of her attorneys, Melissa Untereker. Advocates say Irvin Gonzalez's abuser tipped off authorities about her court hearing, resulting in her Feb. 9 arrest by a task force composed of Border Patrol agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who surrounded the exits of the courthouse until she was detained. Gonzalez is distraught and suffering from the side effects of stopping her hormone therapy, which she hasn't been able to get in jail, she said. She's very emotionally fragile right now, Untereker said. Gonzalez is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service while she faces a federal charge of illegal re-entry into the United States. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

limitations: However, there are a few key elements also at play that I believe have greater resonance with a more pervasive Canadian narrative, according to Huffington Post Canada. Amongst those elements is the idea that you are not defined by your past, but by how you choose to build and live out your future. Metaphysics undoubtedly played a hand in Tyler and I crossing paths, falling in love, and choosing to spend the rest of eternity together. The notion that you alone can elect not to play into the statistics or stigmas that pervade ever more nowadays within traditional and social media. The belief in the power of the sacrifices, struggles, and victories of those who first dared to break free of societal limitations. The concept founded in drawing on the richness and nobility that your ancestors established as your birthright, long before anyone stole or sold it away, stripping your entire people for 400 years of their history and identity. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

marginalized voices: The first thing I always say to any people who are the dominant group is the only way that marginalized voices or people ever thrive is if mainstream voices step aside and create that space, and so instead of speaking for others or advocating for others, actually give them the room and allow them to speak for themselves, she said, according to CBC. Individual pieces in the cultural mosaic puzzle Geer, who is the guest speaker at the Caribbean and African Multicultural Association of Thunder Bay banquet on Saturday, which raises money to cover the cost of educational resources for immigrant and refugee students from elementary school all the way to college and university, said when she talks about diversity she means all the individual pieces in the puzzle of the mosaic. Society as a whole must create a protective environment where people feel safe sharing their own opinions, challenges and solutions, she said. Things changed because those marginalized groups changed it. Geer points to February as Black History Month as a good opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions made over the past 400 years by people of African descent, many who arrived here originally as slaves. It was the people who suffered those laws that actually made change and made a better culture and community for everyone.- Dreeni Geer, director office of human rights and equity, Lakehead University We shouldn't really see the world as binary, meaning white and non-white, but recognize that diversity means there's going to be different groups within that non-white paradigm who have different lived experiences, different challenges, she said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.