Up to $100 million from an emergency fund to meet “unexpected urgent” needs of Afghan refugees, including special immigration visas, was approved July 23 by U.S. President Joe Biden. He also has authorized the release of $200 million in services and articles from government agencies’ inventories as the U.S. prepares to prevent thousands of Afghan allies and their families from being captured and potentially executed by the Taliban. [node:read-more:link]
Multiple reports of fake vaccine cards and passports are emerging, leading Canadians to worry that non-vaccinated Americans will be trying to cross the border. On 20 July 2021, Canada Border Services said that 237 travellers who had arrived in Canada by air, and 354 who had arrived by land, were referred to the Public Health Agency of Canada for “issues related to their proof of vaccination.” [node:read-more:link]
The government announced today that “special immigration measures” to rescue Afghans who helped during Canada’s combat mission as well as those still assisting diplomatic staff even as the Taliban continue to grain ground. “Lives hang in the balance here,” Citizenship and Immigration Minister Marco Mendocino said in a news conference with Defence Minister Sajjan and Foreign Affairs Minister Garneau, explaining that the initiative is not limited to interpreters. “Canada will do right by those who did right by us.” [node:read-more:link]
The British government has dropped COVID-19 restrictions in most of the country despite a surge in infections, mainly the more aggressive Delta variant. England is opening up fastest but Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which manage their own health care systems, are taking a slower approach. [node:read-more:link]
Half of the Australian population is under new COVID-10 lockdowns as the government tries to cope with new outbreaks. Fewer than 14 per cent of the population have been vaccinated, the lowest rate among industrialized countries, as the country relied on early quarantine measures and border closures. [node:read-more:link]
Fully-vaccinated visitors from the U.S. will be permitted to enter Canada Aug. 9 with visigtors from other countries to follow Sept. 7. Federal officials also announced today that unvaccinated children younger than 12 also will be permitted to enter from the U.S. Aug. 9 and can move around with their parents subject to provincial and local public health measures. [node:read-more:link]
The U.S. business community says partisan squabbling which is frustrating efforts to update immigration laws are contributing to a worrisome brain-drain. They aired their concerns at a congressional hearing, focusing mainly on the loss high-technology workers to Canada. “We're stuck in a time warp,” California Republican Representative Zoe Logren agreed. “It's like driving around with a 30-year-old paper map while others easily navigate the road with turn-by-turn directions from their smartphones.” [node:read-more:link]
U.S. COVID-19 infection rates have more than doubled in the past two weeks with the advent of the Delta variant. Coupled with stalled vaccination rates, it could justify keeping the Canadian border closed to most visitors after July 21 despite pressure from several business sectors. With a week to go, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reiterated that the government remains “cautious” about reopening the border. [node:read-more:link]
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said July 8 that it will be “quite a while” before Canada welcomes any tourists who remain unvaccinated against COVID-19. “We need to continue to ensure that the safety of Canadians, of all the sacrifices that so many people have made over the past many, many months, are not for nothing,” he said July 8, addressing presume from the tourism industry to reopen borders.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said July 8 that it will be “quite a while” before Canada welcomes any tourists who remain unvaccinated against COVID-19. [node:read-more:link]
Section 34 of Canada’s Immigration Act, which states that anyone who acted to overthrow a democratically-elected government, is presenting a huge hurdle for an Ivory Coast refugee facing deportation. Mamadou Konaté originally was deemed “imadmissible” because of his involvement in a civil war 20 years ago. His lawyer says Section 34 technically means that Nelson Mandela and even opponents of Adolf Hitler could have been denied residency status by Canada. [node:read-more:link]
A Canadian national has been deported to the Netherlands from Taiwan to stand trial on charges that he oversaw a global methamphetamine cartel. Lawyers for Tse Chi Lop, who was arrested in Amsterdam in January and detained on a 2019 Australian warrant, say he was deported illegally as part of an international scheme to ensure a long sentence in the Dutch court. [node:read-more:link]
Quarantine restrictions are to be eased, beginning, July 5 for fully-vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents returning to Canada as long as they test negative for COVID-19. Announcing the relaxation today, the government said that with few exceptions, vaccinated foreigners still would be quarantined. [node:read-more:link]
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International say in a joint report that Canada detains thousands of asylum seekers every year in often abusive conditions where people of colour appear to be held for longer periods. Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary-General of AI Canada, says the system contrasts starkly with the country’s rich diversity and values of equality and justice. [node:read-more:link]
Some 400,000 persons living in the U.S. on humanitarian grounds have been ruled by the U.S. Supreme Court as ineligible to apply to become permanent residents. However, with Temporary Protected Status, they cannot be deported and are permitted to work. The case turned on whether people who entered the country illegally and were given humanitarian protections were ever “admitted” under immigration law. [node:read-more:link]
