guard troops: The governor determined that what we asked for is unsupportable, but we will have other iterations, Ronald Vitiello, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's acting deputy commissioner, told reporters in Washington, according to Toronto Star. Brown elicited rare and effusive praise from U.S. President Donald Trump last week for pledging 400 troops to the Guard's third large-scale border mission since 2006. Jerry Brown rejected terms of the National Guard's initial deployment to the Mexican border, but a state official said nothing was decided. Read more Sessions to bring his firm stance on immigration to border sheriffs meeting Article Continued Below Trump wins pledges of 1,600 National Guard troops for Mexico border duty Arizona, Texas sending 400 National Guard troops to U.S.-Mexico border after Trump's call But the Democratic governor conditioned his commitment on his state's troops having nothing to do with immigration enforcement, even in a supporting role. react-empty 142 Brown's announcement last week did not address what specific jobs the California Guard would and would not do, nor answer the thorny question of how state officials would distinguish work related to immigration from other duties. According to two U.S. officials, the initial jobs for those troops include fixing and maintaining vehicles, using remote-control surveillance cameras to report suspicious activity to U.S. Border Patrol agents, operating radios and providing mission support, which can include clerical work, buying gas and handling payrolls. Vitiello said the governor decided California will not accept terms of an initial troop rollout for the state that was similar to plans for the other three border states, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

land border: Asylum claims surged to 50,000 in Canada in 2017 more than double from the year prior and the highest number of claims in more than two decades according to data from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, according to CTV. Beuze said that most of those seeking asylum in Canada in 2017 did so at regular points of entry, like an airport, seaport or land border. Beuze said the goal of his press conference on Parliament Hill was to dispel some fears within the population that those people who are arriving in large numbers in Canada pose any threat to the security of Canadians or are people who are not entitled for whatever reason to the protection of Canadian authorities. Roughly 20,000 crossed into Canada irregularly, he added, with the majority of irregular arrivals taking place in Quebec. A large number of the people coming into Canada are simply passing through the U.S. on the way to their final destination in Canada, Beuze said. He also challenged the idea that the withdrawal of temporary protected status for various immigrant groups in the U.S., coupled with anti-migrant rhetoric coming from the White House, was responsible for the surge in asylum claimants. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

state: Since the Jeff Sessions-led Department of Justice sued California last month over its so-called sanctuary state law limiting police collaboration with immigration agents, at least a dozen local governments have voted to either join or support the lawsuit or for resolutions opposing the state's position, according to The Chronicle Herald. Those include the Board of Supervisors in Orange County, which has more than 3 million people. More local governments in California are saying they don't want to be part of the state's efforts to resist the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, especially in pockets where Republicans still dominate in the otherwise Democratic state. More action is coming this week, with leaders in the Orange County city of Los Alamitos scheduled to vote Monday on a proposal to exempt the community of 12,000 from the state law. On Tuesday, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors is meeting to consider joining the Trump administration lawsuit. Demonstrators for and against the plan are expected to gather outside City Hall ahead of the council meeting set for 6 p.m. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tenured professor: Most of those impacted by the policy have been economic immigrants already working and creating jobs in Canada, but whose children or spouses may have a disability, Hussen said, according to CTV. The current provisions on medical inadmissibility are over 40 years old and are clearly not in line with Canadian values or our government's vision of inclusion. The government will no longer be allowed to reject permanent resident applications from those with serious health conditions or disabilities. He cited the case of a tenured professor at York University who was denied permanent residence because his son had Down syndrome and another case of a family that came to Canada and started a business, but were rejected because of a child with epilepsy. These newcomers have the ability to help grow our economy and enrich our social fabric. These newcomers can contribute and are not a burden to Canada, the minister said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

trafficking network: Right now, there are projections on the table saying that we could go in the neighbourhood of 400 people per day, according to Toronto Star. The province says it wants the federal government to investigate a suspected trafficking network that is helping refugee claimants most of them Nigerian to travel to the United States and sneak across the border into Canada at Roxham Road, which connects New York State with Quebec. Last year, we peaked at about 250 a day and that was considered massive, said Quebec Immigration Minister David Heurtel. Read more For hundreds fleeing Trump, this dead end at Roxham Rd. has become the gateway to Canada Article Continued Below Montreal's Olympic Stadium becomes shelter as Haitian refugees from the U.S. seek home in Canada Opinion Vicky Mochama Canada vastly unprepared to process migrants and refugees It also wants refugee claimants to be sent to other provinces or regions to ease the burden on Quebec, particularly its education and health systems. react-empty 146 As if to underline the gravity of the problem, Heurtel said the 1,850-bed shelter system in the Montreal area will stop accepting new arrivals as of next week when the level of occupation hits 85 per cent. The new reality with migrants demands a new way of doing things. We can't take this situation lightly. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

alexandre bissonnette: It indicated that Bissonnette searched for Trump on Twitter, Google, You Tube and Facebook more than 800 times between Jan. 1, 2017 and the day of the shooting, according to National Observer. Here's a look at how often Alexandre Bissonnette's searched for Donald Trump material online in the month before he killed six men at a Quebec City mosque. Alexandre Bissonnette also visited the website of the city's main mosque numerous times as well as its Facebook page in the days leading up to the shootings. ; The Crown tabled a police report in court today during Bissonnette's sentencing hearing, which detailed the websites he visited before he stormed the mosque on Jan. 29, 2017. Andy Riga, Montreal andyriga April 16, 2018Evidence presented at Alexandre Bissonnette's sentencing hearing this morning includes a list of some of the Twitter accounts he was checking in the month before he killed six men at a Quebec City mosque. The gunman also searched the web for information on mass killers including white supremacist Dylan Roof as well as Marc Lepine, the shooter in Montreal's 1989 Ecole Polytechnique massacre. ; On the day of the killings, Bissonnette also looked up a Twitter message written the previous day by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who used the social platform to welcome refugees. Andy Riga, Montreal andyriga April 16, 2018Bissonnette, 28, pleaded guilty last month to six charges of first-degree murder and six of attempted murder in the shooting. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

commissioner: The governor determined that what we asked for is unsupportable, but we will have other iterations, Ronald Vitiello, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's acting deputy commissioner, told reporters in Washington.article continues below Trending Stories SeaBus hero performs CPR to save fellow passenger's life Rio Theatre crowdfunding campaign makes history Transgender trailblazer considers run for Vancouver mayor's chair Roundhouse Radio CEO heartbroken' over station shutdown Brown elicited rare and effusive praise from President Donald Trump last week for pledging 400 troops to the Guard's third large-scale border mission since 2006, according to Vancouver Courier. But the Democratic governor conditioned his commitment on his state's troops having nothing to do with immigration enforcement, even in a supporting role. Jerry Brown rejected terms of the National Guard's initial deployment to the Mexican border, but a state official said nothing was decided. Brown's announcement last week did not address what specific jobs the California Guard would and would not do, nor answer the thorny question of how state officials would distinguish work related to immigration from other duties. According to two U.S. officials, the initial jobs for those troops include fixing and maintaining vehicles, using remote-control surveillance cameras to report suspicious activity to U.S. Border Patrol agents, operating radios and providing mission support, which can include clerical work, buying gas and handling payrolls. Vitiello said the governor decided California will not accept terms of an initial troop rollout for the state that was similar to plans for the other three border states, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

force: Rotrand recently suggested that Sikh police officers be allowed to wear turbans and Muslim officers be allowed hijabs to attract more diverse recruits and build a force that better reflects the population it serves, according to National Observer. Montreal mayor Valerie Plante immediately expressed an openness to the proposal and considers efforts to be more inclusive a sign of the times . While French Quebecers' aversion to religion is understandable and rooted in historical reasons, it's frustrating to still see the province ruled by it. Judging by the countless op-eds, heated online comments, and overzealous statements by Quebec politicians, following Montreal councillor Marvin Rotrand's suggestion to allow them in Montreal police uniforms, a consensus is nowhere to be reached. Toulastake cdnpoli qcpoli secularism hijab turban However, that's where the political enthusiasm for the proposal came to a screeching halt. In a rare display of unanimity, all opposition parties, The Parti Qu b cois, Coalition Avenir Qu bec and Qu bec Solidaire rejected the idea. With a fall election on the horizon, provincial parties grabbed on to this counterproductive debate and, once again, made it an electoral issue. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

quebec ministers: Heurtel says projections suggest there will be up to 400 crossings a day this summer, compared to 250 in 2017, according to National Observer. Several senior Quebec ministers joined Heurtel to announce the province will soon reach its capacity for accommodating asylum-seekers. Immigration Minister David Heurtel says the number is forecast to increase significantly this summer. ; He told a news conference Monday there have been 6,074 asylum-seekers so far this year, up from about 2,000 during the same period last year. Heurtel is expected to meet with federal officials in Ottawa on Wednesday to come up with a plan. Last year, the influx of border crossers was linked to the end of a U.S. government program that granted Haitians so-called temporary protected status following the massive earthquake that struck their homeland in 2010. ; This year, Heurtel says asylum-seekers are coming from various countries. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tenured professor: The current provisions on medical inadmissibility are over 40 years old and are clearly not in line with Canadian values or our government's vision of inclusion, according to Vancouver Courier. He cited the case of a tenured professor at York University who was denied permanent residence because his son had Down syndrome, and another case of a family that came to Canada and started a business, but were rejected because of a child with epilepsy. The government will no longer be allowed to reject permanent resident applications from those with serious health conditions or disabilities.article continues below Trending Stories SeaBus hero performs CPR to save fellow passenger's life Rio Theatre crowdfunding campaign makes history Transgender trailblazer considers run for Vancouver mayor's chair Roundhouse Radio CEO heartbroken' over station shutdown Most of those impacted by the policy have been economic immigrants already working and creating jobs in Canada, but whose children or spouses may have a disability, Hussen said. These newcomers can contribute and are not a burden to Canada, the minister said. The changes will amend the definition of social services by removing references to special education, social and vocational rehabilitation services and personal support services. These newcomers have the ability to help grow our economy and enrich our social fabric. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

hiyam janduda: His wife, Hiyam Janduda, added that donating blood is a way of saying thanks to the country that has helped so many people start new lives, according to CTV. The coordinated effort, which included cities from Halifax to Vancouver, has been declared Syrian Canadian Donation Day by the Ottawa-based non-profit Humans for Peace Institution, which also hopes to make this an annual event. We need to save lives, donor Adel Ghanam said from Calgary. Donating blood, one organizer explained, is considered a significant symbolic gesture across much of the Middle East. To give blood is to give life, Syrian refugee Mohammed Alsaleh, who helped organize Vancouver's blood drive, added. When people want to really assure you that they are going to do whatever they can for you, they always say, I'm going to sacrifice my blood for you,' said Sam Nammoura, a Syrian-Canadian who co-founded Calgary's Syrian Refugee Support Group. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

verification card: The statement said authorities determined whether they had lived in Myanmar and provided them with a national verification card, according to The Chronicle Herald. The card is a form of ID, but does not mean citizenship something Rohingya have been denied in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where they've faced persecution for decades. A government statement said Saturday that five members of a family returned to western Rakhine state from the border area. It said that the family was staying temporarily with relatives in Maungdaw town, the administrative centre close to the border. Bangladesh has given Myanmar a list of more than 8,000 refugees to begin the repatriation, but it has been further delayed by a complicated verification process. The statement did not say if any more repatriations are being planned. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

calgary activist: We took a stand against people who claim that they are Christians, who claim that they are Conservatives, who claim they are patriots but they are anything but, according to CTV. We know what they have done in the past, we know how much hate they have inside them against Muslims, said Saima Jamal, a Calgary activist who helped organize the event. Members of the anti-racism side say the event was a good opportunity for them to take a stand against hate. Jamal says that both events were scheduled weeks ago and she wants people to know that they are protesting the views of their opponents who claim to be holding a Christian event. Muslims and Christians and Jews and every other faith in this city stay united and we celebrate each other's faith and we celebrate each other's diversity, Jamal said. We know Christians, we love Christians. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

language populations: When it comes to issues like planing, infrastructure and addressing social challenges, we need to cross connect all of these communities which we're not doing, according to Toronto Star. Last month, George Chahal showed the need for better communication with those who don't speak English as their first language on the council floor when he helped translate a constituent concerns and questions about the secondary suite process in Punjabi for the rest of council to hear. People are really agitated and alienated, said Atiya Ashna, an active northeast community member. Coun. It started a broader conversation about how Calgary is speaking to and engaging immigrant and English as a second language populations. Jyoti Gondek also stood and responded to the man's questions in his own language an unconventional but eye-opening first for many who follow municipal politics. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ocean liner: The well-known Titanic disaster of 1912, has much in common with the sinking of the SS Atlantic, an ocean liner that sank just outside of Halifax in April of 1873, killing more than 550 people, according to CTV. The worst Trans-Atlantic passenger ship disaster of the 19th century and the worst of the 20th century, were ships that were built in the same yard, belong to the same company, and were travelling at night, in April, and both experienced a collision, explains historian Bob Chaulk, author of the book 'SS Atlantic The White Star Line's First Disaster at Sea'. Built by White Star Line- the same company behind the Titanic- the SS Atlantic was making its way from Liverpool, England to New York City when they were diverted to Halifax. But you may not know that the largest North-Atlantic marine disaster prior to the Titanic also occurred on the shores of Nova Scotia. They ran low on coal because they had a very stormy crossing and they were afraid they wouldn't make it to New York, so they did the sensible thing and diverted to Halifax, explains Chaulk. The ship was swept about 25 km off course, and at 3 15 a.m. on April 1st, the SS Atlantic smashed full speed into the rocky shores at Lower Prospect. But the ship's captain had never sailed into Halifax and didn't take into account the strong local currents created by the Bay of Fundy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

sponsor volha: While the March 20 decision simply said the application was denied because the officer wasn't satisfied the relationship was genuine, the Toronto man says the officer questioned Volha repeatedly during an interview about why the sponsorship application was filed almost two years after their wedding in May 2015, when the husband and wife last saw each other, according to Toronto Star. I was waiting for the house to be almost done before I filed the application to sponsor Volha and her son, said Oren, 49, an IT consultant. Now, after a tangled journey that involved buying a home in a pre-construction project that fell through, a new four-bedroom house is finally ready, but it's sitting empty because his spousal sponsorship for Volha and Yaheni Oren was rejected by the Canadian visa post in Poland in March. I don't want to bring somebody to Canada without a place to put them. Article Continued Below However, the occupancy of his home was delayed and Urbancorp later sold the project to another builder after filing for restructuring under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in 2016. In an interview with the Star, Oren said he paid a 75,000 deposit for a pre-built Urbancorp home near Lawrence Ave. and Black Creek Dr. in 2014, a year after he was introduced to his wife by a mutual friend. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugee: The chemical attack itself is psychologically hard on us as Syrians, she said, according to CTV. Over the past seven years, we've witnessed all kinds of deaths. Yaman Al-Quadri, a Syrian refugee who fled to Canada after being detained by government of Syrian president Bashar Assad for a month shortly after the start of the uprising in March, 2011, called the experience of watching her people suffer through chemical attacks at the hands of the military an emotional rollercoaster. Sarin gas is one of the banned war weapons according to international treaties but the Assad regime has been killing people over the past seven years using all kinds of weapons. Omar Jandali Riafi said the Montreal Syrian community had been anticipating an American response since the attack. According to a White House assessment, the Syrian government used chemical weapons in Duma, Al-Quadri's hometown, on April 7, killing dozens of men, women and children and leaving hundreds of others injured. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugees: Sam Nammoura, with the Syrian Refugee Support Group of Calgary, helped organize a blood drive for the Syrian community back in January, according to Toronto Star. The success of the event got him and other organizers thinking that they could organize another Canada-wide. Coast to coast, Syrian refugees were showing their gratitude for a chance at a new life by donating blood to help other lives. More than 10 cities are participating. Reham Ghanam was 14 when her family fled Syria and headed to Lebanon. We really wanted to come together across the country as a Syrian community and say in one loud voice that we are here to build, participate, integrate and to appreciate the support and the help that was given to Syrians. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

government: Growing restrictions on U.S. immigration are also leading many talented scientists to look elsewhere for opportunities, including in Canada. ; It's easy and comforting perhaps to think that similar problems encountered under the former Harper government in Canada have been resolved since the election of the Trudeau government in 2015, according to National Observer. But while the Trudeau government has proven much more supportive of science than the former Harper government, serious systemic problems remain that endanger both the integrity and future of public science in Canada. Under U.S. president Donald Trump's administration, the dismissal and defunding of science especially, but not limited to, climate and environmental science has given new urgency to efforts to protect and promote science in the public interest. They cannot wait to be resolved by a later generation or government. While that's a marked improvement over the 90% who said the same thing in 2013, it's hardly reassuring to think that fewer than half of federal scientists are free to tell Canadians what they do for a living or what they know. According to a recent Environics survey of federal scientists commissioned by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, over half 53% of respondents continue to say they cannot speak freely about science and their research. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

minister theresa: Critics swiftly accused Britain and France of playing loyal deputies to an unpredictable American leader, viewed by many in Europe with suspicion or outright scorn, according to Vancouver Courier. Some worried it could further antagonize Europe's hulking neighbour Russia at an already tense time.article continues below Trending Stories Greater Vancouver home prices to drop 21 per cent by 2019 analysis Comedian Jim Gaffigan trolls rainy Vancouver Police deal with 10-car pile-up on Cypress Bowl Road Superyacht Cloudbreak anchors off Vancouver's coast British Prime Minister Theresa May was decried for not seeking parliamentary approval for Saturday's co-ordinated airstrikes. Now they need to make sure it doesn't backfire. French President Emmanuel Macron was accused of compromising the independence of a country that famously stayed out of former U.S. President George W. Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq. Yet the co-ordinated bombings tapped into the prevailing mood among leaders of the two powers, who are united in a sense that something had to be done to stop Syrian President Bashar Assad's government from repeatedly using chemical weapons. And worst of all, Saturday's one-shot military operation may not substantially change the course of the war in Syria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

people: For sure, the terrorist attacks that killed so many people made me think of it, Bissonnette said, regarding the night of Jan. 29, 2017, when he entered the mosque and murdered the six men, according to National Observer. He said he wasn't a monster or a terrorist, adding he went to the mosque to save lives. In the video recorded the day after the shooting, Alexandre Bissonnette told police how terrorists had killed scores of people throughout Europe. ; And he lost it after learning Canada was preparing to take in more refugees. Instead of shooting himself alone in the woods, Bissonnette said, thanks to his actions, maybe 100 people will now be saved. The recording was tabled into evidence by the Crown during Bissonnette's sentencing hearing. Maybe 200 or 300 people, he said later in the video. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

alexandre bissonnette: And he lost it after learning Canada was preparing to take in more refugees, according to The Chronicle Herald. For sure, the terrorist attacks that killed so many people made me think of it, Bissonnette said, regarding the night of Jan. 29, 2017, when he entered the mosque and murdered the six men. In the video recorded the day after the shooting, Alexandre Bissonnette told police how terrorists had killed scores of people throughout Europe. He said he wasn't a monster or a terrorist, adding he went to the mosque to save lives. Maybe 200 or 300 people, he said later in the video. Instead of shooting himself alone in the woods, Bissonnette said, thanks to his actions, maybe 100 people will now be saved. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

end poverty: Advocates have long argued that Indigenous people should have a cultural centre the German and Polish Culture Associations both do, for example and plans for a facility were eventually included in End Poverty Edmonton's five-year road map to end poverty, according to Toronto Star. The plan got city council approval back in May 2016, along with 1.3 million in funding for the design phase. In our communities when someone passes away, we like to have wakes and we need a large space and we need to be able to burn our medicines and practice our traditional ways, so it could facilitate events like that, said Carola Cunningham, a community member of the Indigenous steering committee. Public consultation for the project started Thursday at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre, where organizers hoped to get feedback about what the community would like to see included. The Centre could be a showcase for showing the rest of the world different Indigenous tribal ways of being, she said. Article Continued Below Cunningham pointed out there are many different Indigenous groups in the city, and said the facility would need to be big and versatile enough to include space for all as they all have different ways of doing their ceremonies. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

immigrant outcomes: Public support often aided by a diversity of prominent stakeholders in indispensable, the department told the co-ordinating committee of deputy ministers during a meeting in April 2017 to discuss immigrant outcomes, according to CTV. But there could be a tipping point that, once reached, undermines the history of relative Canadian consensus. Internal data prepared by the Immigration Department for a committee of deputy ministers suggests a majority of Canadians supports current immigration levels, but this support drops when they are informed of how many immigrants actually arrive every year. The internal departmental data was obtained by The Canadian Press through access-to-information. But most of those respondents believed the number of immigrants arriving every year was under 150,000. It includes polling data that suggests just over 50 per cent of Canadians believed the number of immigrants who come to Canada every year is about right and this number has remained steady since 2012. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

japanese food: Interested in mail-ordering pet treats to a 32-year-old cat owner in Madison, Wisconsin who enjoys Japanese food, doesn't like pizza and has an anniversary coming up in the next two months Not a problem, according to CTV. Targeting ads, it turns out, is almost infinitely customizable -- sometimes in surprising ways. Trying to pitch your boutique bed and breakfast to a 44-year-old trendy mom who lives in Seattle, leans conservative and is currently travelling in the Toronto area but hasn't booked a hotel for the night yet Go right ahead. The ads you might see can be tailored to you down to the most granular details -- not just where you live and what websites you visited recently, but whether you've gotten engaged in the past six months, are interested in organic food or share characteristics with people who have recently bought a BMW, even if you've never expressed interest in doing so yourself. Even with a recent decision to stop working with outside data brokers to help advertisers target ads based on things like offline purchases or credit history, this number is expected to grow sharply this year. Facebook made 40 billion in advertising revenue last year, second only to Google when it comes to its share of the global digital advertising market. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mosque shooting: And he lost it after learning Canada was preparing to take in more refugees, according to Toronto Star. Read more Quebec judge nixes media request to release videos of 2017 mosque shooting Article Continued Below Lawyers for Quebec mosque shooter to argue for life sentence in prison, no parole for 25 years Quebec man paralyzed in 2017 mosque shooting to receive 400,000 for new home For sure, the terrorist attacks that killed so many people made me think of it, Bissonnette said, regarding the night of Jan. 29, 2017, when he entered the mosque and murdered the six men. react-empty 142 He said he wasn't a monster or a terrorist, adding he went to the mosque to save lives. In the video recorded the day after the shooting, Alexandre Bissonnette told police how terrorists had killed scores of people throughout Europe. Instead of shooting himself alone in the woods, Bissonnette said, thanks to his actions, maybe 100 people will now be saved. The recording was tabled into evidence by the Crown during Bissonnette's sentencing hearing. Maybe 200 or 300 people, he said later in the video. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.