obama-era program: If Tuesday's ruling by U.S. District Judge John D. Bates in Washington survives the three-month reprieve, it would be a new setback for the Trump team because it would require the administration to accept requests from first-time applicants for the Obama-era program, according to CTV. Two nationwide injunctions earlier this year applied only to renewal requests for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. While the government has 90 days to restate its arguments before the order takes effect, presidential press secretary Sarah Huckabee characterized the ruling as good news for smuggling organizations and criminal networks and horrible news for our national security. DACA recipients are commonly referred to as Dreamers, based on never-passed proposals in Congress called the DREAM Act that would have provided similar protections for young immigrants. He invited the Department of Homeland Security to try again, this time providing a fuller explanation for the determination that the program lacks statutory and constitutional authority. Siding with Princeton University and the NAACP, Bates said the administration's decision in September to phase out the program over six months relied on meagre legal reasoning. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

official ports: Compared to the same time last year in the months following Donald Trump's arrival in the White House the number of migrants walking across the border has tripled, according to Toronto Star. Refugee lawyers and advocates have called for Canada to suspend its involvement with the Safe Third Country Agreement STCA . Because of its rules, the STCA incentivizes migrants seeking asylum to not claim at official ports of entry, such as official border stations. The RCMP reported earlier this month that in January and February it had intercepted 3,000 people crossing from the U.S. to Canada to claim asylum. The influx of people to Canada both predates and is a symptom of current American foreign policy. However, there has long been a sizable migrant crisis; globally the number is 60 million people, including refugees and internally displaced people. The Trump administration's hostility toward migrants whether it is expanding deportation or rescinding temporary protected status for more than 200,000 individuals is influential. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

string quartet: People gathered at Olive Square at Yonge St. and Finch Ave, according to Toronto Star. Tuesday evening, leaving flowers and notes in memory of the victims. That was the message amplified at the vigil for the victims of a van attack that killed 10 people and injured 14 more in North York on Monday. Words of kindness were written in English, Korean and Farsi, reflecting the diversity of the neighbourhood that was shaken by Monday's rampage. Others began to cry. Some people bowed their heads and prayed as a string quartet performed Hallelujah. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tuesday afternoon: On Monday afternoon a van drove down Yonge St., crossing the Finch Ave, according to Toronto Star. W. intersection. Just 24 hours before, a tragedy began not far from that spot. For the next 2.2 kilometres, the van veered onto the curb, hitting pedestrians, killing 10 and injuring 14. On Tuesday afternoon, people who work and live in the area emerged onto Yonge St. and gathered near caution tape and watched the quiet street. Police arrested a suspect just south of Sheppard Ave. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

victoria blamey: The Heat A Kitchen R evolution, which opens the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival on Thursday, details the gender barriers women have faced in climbing the ranks of the professional culinary world, according to The Chronicle Herald. Interviewees include chef Anne-Sophie Pic, the only woman in France to have three Michelin stars for culinary excellence. Women were fighting for years to get out of the kitchen and now women are fighting to get their rightful place back in the kitchen, she said in an interview. Other chefs in the doc include Victoria Blamey and Anita Lo of New York, Charlotte Langley of Toronto, and Angela Hartnett of London. They also say female chefs don't get the same financial backing that men do. They talk about gender disparity in the culinary world, noting the media doesn't celebrate female chefs the way they do men. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

cookie-cutter houses: When their house was finished a year later, it was one of a new batch of cookie-cutter houses in a neatly organized subdivision, where chain-linked fences divided lawns and large picture windows allowed neighbours to spy on each other from the safety of their living rooms, according to NOW Magazine. Leung captures this era of Scarborough in her new book, That Time I Loved You Harper Collins Canada . It's a beautiful collection of heartwarming, funny short stories that explore the inner lives of the people who make up the subdivision, like June and Josie, two Chinese middle-schoolers who come of age in Scarborough and through one another; Darren, a comic-book-loving young Black boy who realizes too young the cruelties of racism; and Mrs. During their first year in Canada, Leung and her family would make weekly trips from their rented apartment in Etobicoke to the construction site of their future home in Scarborough. Da Silva, a Portuguese immigrant trying to find her footing in a big new city. Last year, Nuit Blanche announced the 2018 festival would expand to Scarborough due partially to community demand. Over the past year, Scarborough and the Toronto suburbs in general have been the muse and backdrop to some of the city's most exciting arts and culture, whether through literature like David Chariandy's Brother and Catherine Hernandez's Scarborough, or films like Joyce Wong's Wexford Plaza. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

council vancouver: On Tuesday, Mohsin, 39, was preparing to break down his camp again, after an order came from the security services to move once more.article continues below Trending Stories After accident that left him paralyzed, pilot finds way to move forward More park board commissioners hoping to make jump to council Vancouver is officially the rattiest city in B.C.'Police credit witnesses for helping end East Van crime spree Even as donor nations raise money for Syria's neighbours to host refugees of the country's civil war, a leading international rights group and the U.N.'s refugee agency say Lebanese authorities are evicting refugees from towns and camps in the country on questionable legal grounds, according to Vancouver Courier. Mohsin, from Syria's third largest city Homs, said on the second order to move he went to a local official to ask for help. The message was clear, he said they were not wanted. He said, go back to Syria, said Mohsin. Human Rights Watch said it documented evictions in 13 towns and villages putting more than 3,600 Syrians on the streets since 2016. Neither the local official nor the military could be reached for comment. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

life support: Medics caring for him at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool have said further treatment is futile, and the toddler's life support was withdrawn Monday after a series of court rulings sided with the doctors and blocked further medical treatment.article continues below Trending Stories After accident that left him paralyzed, pilot finds way to move forward Vancouver is officially the rattiest city in B.C.'Kinder Morgan protesters occupy justice minister's office Police seek missing woman Alfie's parents continued their fight to take him to Italy to be cared for at the Vatican's children's hospital, which has said it is willing to take him, according to Vancouver Courier. Three Court of Appeal judges rejected the parents' latest legal bid on Wednesday. Doctors say the 23-month-old boy suffers from a degenerative neurological condition that has left him in a semi-vegetative state with almost no brain function. Judge Andrew McFarlane said nothing had changed since a previous court ruling that Alfie's treatment should end. It wasn't immediately clear whether Alfie's parents would seek another appeal. High Court Justice Anthony Hayden dismissed the parents' case on Tuesday, and said his ruling represented the final chapter in the life of this extraordinary little boy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

prostitution-related crimes: If they attend the sessions, their charges are dropped, according to NOW Magazine. Stephanie Wang-Breal's persistent cameras capture conversations and the close relationships among the program's participants, including special court judge Toko Serita, counsellor Eliza Hook and women, many of them illegal immigrants from China, caught up in sex work life. Rating NNNNIn 2004, a gob-smackingly progressive program is initiated in Queens, in which New York's justice system gives women arrested for prostitution-related crimes the option of forgoing a trial in favour of counselling sessions. Attempts to zero in on the personal lives of Serita and Hook almost derail the pic, but Blowin' Up the term for leaving the sex trade winds up being a powerful ode to a sanctuary city even if Trump's Immigration Services have started invading to sweep up the undocumented. May 1, 6 45 pm, Hart House; May 3, 12 30 pm, TIFF 1; May 5, 9 pm, Revue (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ticket info: May 3-13, 2018, according to NOW Magazine. Various venues. Featuring films and TV screenings that highlight a diverse range of Jewish experiences around the world. Schedule and ticket info at tjff. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks, says the diminutive but powerful Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the new documentary on her life, RBG. The daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants, she defied all expectations of women in the legal profession, becoming America's second female Supreme Court Justice and dedicating her life to raising the bar for equality. I ask no favour for my sex. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

film: The documentary is screening May 2 and 4 at Toronto's Hot Docs festival as well as other festivals in the next few months, according to Rabble. Kiribati population 100,000 sits in what is called the centre of the world -- on the equator and smack dab on the international east-west dateline. This is an era of urgency and if you are going to catch a climate change film, be sure to watch this deeply moving, people-centred one. We thought we were so isolated we could be immune from the tribulations of the world, intones the wise Anote Tong, who served as the country's leader from 2003 to 2016. It is a finely tuned film dressed in deep melancholy and shot with so much care and cinematic artistry and prowess, you'll feel deeply as your eyes are submerged in the images. The documentary follows Tong over the last years of his term as he struggles to save his country and culture from the ravages of extreme storms and sea-level rise. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canada: HYP 2018 also includes a public symposium at the Halifax Central Library on July 14, where Hill will discuss his latest novel, The Illegal, and Globe and Mail columnist Doug Saunders will talk about his latest book, Maximum Canada Why 35 Million Canadians Are Not Enough, according to The Chronicle Herald. Students aged 15 to 17 can apply online by May 18 at www.hyp.ukings.ca, with a statement of their interest in migration and a letter of recommendation from an adult. Participants will delve into material about migration and multiculturalism, with workshops on preserving cultures of origin and Canada's immigration and refugee laws. The 925 fee covers accommodation, meals and other costs, and a limited number of bursaries are available for refugee and immigrant students, as well as those with financial need. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

carnage: Yet we are blessed with a collective defence unique to Toronto, according to Toronto Star. The difference is that we are different for our diversity offers immunity, at least partially, from the bigotry and blaming that erupt in times of trouble elsewhere. The impact here is more piercing, for we Canadians imagine ourselves to be exempt from terror at a safe distance from the geographical and political hot spots that make targets of global cities. Read more Opinion Edward Keenan Cop who faced down suspect in Yonge St. carnage an example for all of us Article Continued Below Opinion Heather Mallick No elitism in response to carnage, only compassion Opinion Rosie Dimanno Toronto van tragedy bonds city in blood. Who were these people react-empty 146 The victims, eyewitnesses, police and paramedics on the scene were all Torontonians, yes. But no one will say the word terrorism'Stop for a second, look and listen to what happened, who it happened to, how the city responded. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

child-care benefit: The party expects to own the constituencies that will rally to the progressive theme specifically women and youth; and, overall, the majority of the 60 per cent who bothered to vote in the last election, according to Rabble. And, yes, the governing party can fairly claim that when it comes to smoking pot legally, welcoming 50,000 Syrian refugees, or approving medically assisted death, the Liberals have introduced progressive policy measures. The Liberal leader announced I deeply believe that we are and should be a progressive party. Importantly, the Liberals introduced the more generous and tax-free Canada child benefit CCB to replace the taxable, Conservative, so-called universal child-care benefit. This compares well to about 2,000 per year for each child under six and 720 per year for each child aged six through 17 under the Conservatives' sad attempt to pretend they had a child-care spending plan. In 2018 families with a net income of less than 30,000 as income rises, payments are reduced will receive 6,400 per year for each child under the age of six and 5,400 per year for each child aged six to 17. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

facebook post: Ten people were killed at Yonge and Finch in Toronto, and more than a dozen injured, allegedly at the hand, or rather, the wheel, of a guy from my hometown Alek Minassian, 25, of Richmond Hill, according to Toronto Star. He was charged this morning with ten counts of murder and thirteen counts of attempted murder. On Monday, it did. Though a Facebook post linked to the 25-year-old appears to praise Elliot Rodger, the misogynist who killed six people and then himself in California in 2014, Minassian's motive for allegedly barrelling down a sidewalk crowded with pedestrians remains officially unknown. When these monumentally awful things happen, most people hope and pray nobody they know and love was targeted. For some, it's strange to say, this is a relief. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

greeting customers: The two-month training program, which covered subjects like greeting customers, First Aid, and Canadian cultural values, helped him adjust to a new country much more quickly, according to Toronto Star. Since then, he has been working for the global coffee company as a barista and store clerk. When Kakwan, who immigrated to Canada from Iran alone, started his job search online he stumbled upon the Pacific Community Resources Society PCRS which was running a barista training program for youth in partnership with Starbucks. Seeing the results from the youth work program, Starbucks is launching a new partnership with the Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia and Surrey Local Immigration Partnership. Kakwan said his job has given him the opportunity to prove he's a capable person. The program will focus on refugees, with a goal of hiring at least 1,000 newcomers many of whom will be youth by 2022 in Vancouver and Surrey, where the company has more than 150 stores. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

refugee claimants: This has been an issue for well over a year, but this prime minister has failed to take any concrete steps to address the situation, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said, according to CTV. Meanwhile, families here in Canada who are waiting to be reunited with a loved one or refugees facing real danger have to wait longer because of the government's inaction. The Trudeau Liberals and the Opposition Conservatives blamed each other Tuesday for problems caused by a spike in refugee claimants entering Canada illegally from the U.S. -- an influx that does not appear to be slowing down. Why Prime Minister Justin Trudeau countered that lengthy delays for processing refugee claims were caused by a cut in funding to the Canada Border Services Agency by the former Conservative administration of Stephen Harper. Their cuts left us with significant backlogs, Trudeau said. I think people will be forgiven for rolling their eyes when the Conservatives talk about supporting refugees or accelerating process for family reunification. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

schmidt: A few keystrokes later, she found a remedy a dab of lemon and honey on each spot before bed each evening, according to CTV. But she managed to stick to the routine for only a couple of days before she developed painful sores. The 28-year-old Regina teacher was tired of the acne-related dark spots on her face. I was panicking, Schmidt said. Schmidt said the doctor she consulted for her acne five years ago didn't seem to know how to treat her black skin. I pretty much killed the first layer of skin. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

semi-vegetative state: The judge appeared to rule that out at an emergency court hearing in Manchester, but asked whether there might be other options that involved Alfie's parents taking their son home, according to CTV. The hearing was adjourned while the hospital considered the question. The Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting the parents of 23-month-old Alfie Evans, said lawyers would repeat a request to judge Anthony Hayden to allow the boy to be cared for at the Vatican's hospital in Rome. Doctors say Alfie is in a semi-vegetative state as a result of a degenerative neurological condition that medics have been unable to identify precisely. But his parents have refused to accept the decision and fought to prevent Alfie's life support being switched off. Doctors treating him at Alder Hey Children's Hospital say he has little brain function and further treatment is futile. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canada: Meanwhile, families here in Canada who are waiting to be reunited with a loved one or refugees facing real danger have to wait longer because of the government's inaction, according to Vancouver Courier. Why Prime Minister Justin Trudeau countered that lengthy delays for processing refugee claims were caused by a cut in funding to the Canada Border Services Agency by the former Conservative administration of Stephen Harper. The Trudeau Liberals and the Opposition Conservatives blamed each other Tuesday for problems caused by a spike in refugee claimants entering Canada illegally from the U.S. an influx that does not appear to be slowing down.article continues below Trending Stories Vancouver is officially the rattiest city in B.C.'Vancouver police officers tackle issue of women and gangs Cost of living stats indicate tough road ahead for Vancouver familiesUBC and dead woman's former gardener battle over her Burnaby home and cash This has been an issue for well over a year, but this prime minister has failed to take any concrete steps to address the situation, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said. I think people will be forgiven for rolling their eyes when the Conservatives talk about supporting refugees or accelerating process for family reunification. They tried to get rid of backlogs by using the delete button. Their cuts left us with significant backlogs, Trudeau said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rattiest city: The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the shelling killed five and wounded 17.A group of journalists taken to the adjacent neighbourhood of Qadam on Tuesday witnessed intense shelling and airstrikes on IS positons in the camp and Hajar al-Aswad, according to Vancouver Courier. The crackle of gunfire echoed from the heavily damaged area. The TV said the aim of the operation is to destroy trenches and tunnels in the Hajar al-Aswad neighbourhood and the nearby Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk, which is also mostly controlled by the extremists.article continues below Trending Stories Vancouver is officially the rattiest city in B.C.'Vancouver police officers tackle issue of women and gangs Cost of living stats indicate tough road ahead for Vancouver familiesUBC and dead woman's former gardener battle over her Burnaby home and cashIS fighters in Hajar al-Aswad fired a shell on the nearby government-held neighbourhood of Nahr Aisha, killing four people and wounding 15, state TV said. The area in southern Damascus is the last part of the capital not controlled by President Bashar Assad's forces. The operation will continue until its goal is achieved, a Syrian military officer told reporters in Qadam, speaking on condition of anonymity under regulations. Other insurgents in the area, including an al-Qaida-linked group, have said they would relocate to rebel-held regions in northern Syria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

stories vancouver: As of January, police were investigating 70 files and say they could see more than 800 cases generated by the end of year, resulting in a 300 per cent increase over last year.article continues below Trending Stories Vancouver is officially the rattiest city in B.C.'Vancouver police officers tackle issue of women and gangs Cost of living stats indicate tough road ahead for Vancouver familiesUBC and dead woman's former gardener battle over her Burnaby home and cashrelated Anti-scam expo aims to put the cuffs on fraud North Vancouver woman loses 6K to bitcoin tax scam Police warn public about Bitcoin phone scam This alarming rise in cryptocurrency files is primarily due to the way Bitcoin has been adopted by fraudsters as the instrument of choice to transfer funds, said a Vancouver police report that goes before the Vancouver Police Board Thursday, according to Vancouver Courier. The report points out different scams associated to digital currency, including people posing as Canada Revenue Agency employees who target mainly new immigrants and seniors. Police in Metro Vancouver saw a 350 per cent increase from 2016 to 2017 in files related to digital currency. They tell them they owe money and request the money be deposited in a Bitcoin automated teller machine to a defined address. That type of crime has police worried that organized criminals will take advantage of the anonymity and non-regulated digital currency system to launder money. What is overlooked in these scams is that despite Bitcoin being an unknown concept to many victims, fraudsters easily walk them through the deposit and transfer of the money, said the report, noting the criminals are often based overseas. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

westmount resident: It was my first time writing about racial profiling, but it certainly wouldn't be my last, according to National Observer. It was about a Westmount resident, a local school teacher, out taking a leisurely summer walk on Forden Crescent; a part of town that's dotted with swanky multi-million-dollar mansions. The headline Racial profiling is alive and well in Montreal and that includes Westmount. Not only is racial profiling ultimately ineffective and dehumanizing, it also makes marginalized communities, who are often targeted the most by bias, feel less safe. cdnpoli racialprofiling police Montreal Suddenly the female resident, who, yes... happened to be black, was stopped by Westmount's Public Security Unit. The implication was that she didn't belong there. A female officer asked her if they could help her. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

injustices date: On this day, on behalf of city council and the City of Vancouver, I sincerely apologize for these past injustices and their cruel effects on individuals and their families, and commit to ensuring that similar unjust practices are never again allowed to fall on any group or community, said Robertson from the centre's stage, which included the 10 other members of city council and city manager Sadhu Johnston, according to Vancouver Courier. Those injustices date back to Vancouver's first civic government, which made it clear at its first meeting in 1886 that no Chinaman or Indian shall be entitled to vote in any municipal election for the election of mayor or alderman. The long-awaited apology was delivered by Mayor Gregor Robertson in English and former city councillors Maggie Ip in Cantonese and Bill Yee in Sze Yup at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver on Pender Street, where more than 500 people sat and stood to witness the historic event.article continues below Trending Stories Downtown playground had been problematic' prior to fire Inside the dark 'incel' world of Toronto's murderous rampage Police warn Bitcoin ATMs easier, more profitable' for laundering money than casinos Liberal leader takes shot at employer health tax during visit to manufacturing businessrelated Pop-up events bring tea and talk to Chinatown Vancouver council to apologize for historical discrimination against Chinese Outside, dozens more stopped in the streets to watch the proceedings broadcast on large video screens positioned near the Keefer Memorial Square, where a monument stands in recognition of the contribution Chinese war veterans and railway workers made to Canada. That position served as a launch point for decades of legislated and targeted racism by city leaders, including restricting where Chinese people could own and run a business. Raymond Louie, were used to prohibit Chinese residents from purchasing property. Housing covenants, including one on the house owned by Coun. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

hug christmas: When he'd come by a newsroom or Variety Village every December to drop off cash and cheques for charity, he'd have his Santa's hat on and there wasn't a sports editor or writer over the past five decades who wouldn't drop what they were doing and give the generous old guy a big hug, according to Toronto Star. Christmas just won't be the same now. But to most people, at least in Toronto newsrooms and charities, he was the spirit of Christmas. Greenberg, as giving with his time and fundraising efforts as anyone could be, passed away at age 89 last Saturday. Article Continued Below Greenberg, who grew up in a Jewish family and spent his entire life living on Major Street in the Annex, took it upon himself to raise money for children in need at Christmas. He'll be a tough act to follow. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrants: It's been a positive experience thus far, for sure, said Baker, according to The Chronicle Herald. The changes to the entrepreneurship stream of the nominee program came into effect earlier this year and were intended to get more immigrants to start businesses and put down roots in P.E.I. communities other than Charlottetown, Stratford and Cornwall, where immigrants have tended to settle. Geoff Baker, Kensington's chief administrative officer, said recently that in the two months since the changes came into effect, he's done 16 interviews with potential immigrants interested in getting a letter of endorsement from the Town of Kensington. Prior to the program changes, the provincial nominee program operated on a first-in, first-out system. Unlike the previous system, people applying to the program can now seek endorsements from a list of Island municipalities. It now uses a ranked system, where top-scoring applicants are invited to proceed within the program. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.