Avanti Financial Services Inc . 6453 Kingston Road , Scarborough . 1-866-839-4449 • 416-407-8403 www . avantifinancial . com . • shane @ avantifinancial . com
Why Canadian Parades are banning police Story on Page 7
Vol . 4 . Issue 26 February 28 2017
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The Diaspora ’ s Multicultural Voice
Lawyers want ‘ safe Third Country ’ law repealed
Canada cannot accept refugees from USA
Lawyers in Canada are asking the government to review a law that bars this country from receiving refugee claimants from the USA , given the crackdown on immigration by the new Donald Trump administration .
According to reports , the lawyers say they ’ ve received an influx of requests from refugees in the U . S . hoping to seek asylum in Canada in recent times , moreso since US President Donald Trump issued an executive order ( since overturned by the courts ) banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations .
The Trump government has also signalled its intent to go after illegal or undocumented people in the US , in spite of some areas declaring themselves “ sanctuary cities ”.
In one such “ sanctuary city ,” New York , Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) agents swept neighbourhoods , including the popular little Guyana in South Ozone Park , Queens , looking for illegals .
They also initiated enforcement action in the New York subway system .
This has led to numerous inquiries to immigration lawyers in Canada from people seeking to migrate , and also inquiries as to whether some of them can seek refugee protection here .
However , the Canada-U . S . Safe Third Country Agreement requires people to apply for asylum in the first country where they arrive , unless an immediate family member lives in the other country .
The Safe Third Country Agreement only applies to people who make a refugee claim at a Port of Entry on the US-Canada border . It does not apply to people who have entered from the US and subsequently make a refugee claim .
Even if Canadian border officials come upon the person right at the border , the Agreement does not apply if they are not at a Port of Entry .
The Canadian government has faced pressure to repeal the Safe Third country agreement , but has so far refused .
Alastair Clarke , of Clarke Immigration Law in Winnipeg , said that ’ s a mistake . He said 10 new clients have been referred to him in the last week — some of whom crossed the border on foot , successfully bypassing border points so they could make their refugee claims once already in the country .
It ’ s a method police say is on the rise — the RCMP said 21 people were arrested for illegally crossing the border into Emerson , Man ., Saturday . Clarke said it ’ s putting people at risk . “ They ’ re crossing farmer fields on foot ,” he added . “ When it ’ s -10 , -
15 with the wind chill factors , it ’ s highly risky .”
World ’ s fastest
man slows down
Everyone needs to slow down the pace once in a while , even the world ’ s fastest man . Yes , he might not be easily recognisable when covered in paint and dirt , but that is Jamaica ’ s Usain Bolt “ taking a wine ” at Trinidad Carnival this weekend behind an unidentified woman .
Bolt has been a regular at Trinidad Carnival in the past , and spent the last week enjoying all aspects of the festivities , which culminate in a two day street party that ends today ( February 28 ). He is among the tens of thousands of visitors who flock to T & T for carnival annually .
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