Posted by admin on Jan 2nd, 2008
Obscurity and confinement for migrants in Europe
By Caroline Brothers. Sunday, December 30, 2007. International Herald Tribune
They are in railroad depots. They are in old grain stores and recycled factories. Some are brand new, others are in adjuncts of prisons. One is on a ship anchored in the Dutch port of Rotterdam. From Ireland to Bulgaria, from Finland to Spain, detention camps for foreigners have mushroomed across the European Union. They have emerged mostly over the past decade, as the region has grown less and less welcoming to migrants. There are now 224 detention camps scattered across the European Union; altogether they can house more than 30,000 people – asylum-seekers and illegal immigrants awaiting deportation – who are often held in administrative detention for as long as 18 months. In a number of EU countries, there is no upper limit on detention length.
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Posted by admin on Dec 14th, 2007
Laibar Singh, a 48-year old Punjabi refugee living in Vancouver, was due to be deported on December 10, ironically Human Rights Day. However, upwards to 1500 of Singh’s supporters rallied at the airport prior to his deportation, and peacefully blocked the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) officials from getting to the taxi where Singh was waiting. The flight that was due to deport Singh took off at 2:30pm, and he wasn’t on it. His deportation has now been temporarily postponed, and Mr. Singh is back with his community and friends.
* Click here to listen to an interview with Naava Smolash, member of No One is Illegal Vancouver
* Click here and here to watch video coverage of the rally at the Vancouver International Airport
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Posted by admin on Dec 6th, 2007
CAMPAIGN CONTINUES IN SUPPORT FOR LAIBAR SINGH, LAIBAR RECEIVES
DEPORTATION ORDER FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
*** Fri Dec 7 @ 4:00-4:30 pm: Action at Vancouver Citizenship and Immigration Canada Offices (300 West Georgia).
*** Sat Dec 8 @ 2 pm: Rally at Surrey Immigration Offices. 13450 102nd Avenue Surrey (between 134th and 135th Street). 1 block from Surrey Central Skytrain Station
*** Mon Dec 10: details tbc but pending any response from the government to reverse this unjust deportation, there will be a convergence at the Vancouver International Airport. Transport arranged, so please mark the date if you are able to!
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Posted by admin on Dec 5th, 2007
By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer, 02 December, 2007
WASHINGTON – More people seeking asylum in the U.S. could be detained and then jailed longer under a new Homeland Security Department policy for people wanting safe harbor. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a division of the Homeland Security Department, said it issued the new policy Nov. 6 to make detention rules for asylum seekers more consistent and clear. But refugee advocates say it sets tougher standards for asylum seekers to win parole from detention.
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Posted by admin on Nov 30th, 2007
URGENT SUPPORT FOR LAIBAR SINGH, LAIBAR RECEIVES DEPORTATION ORDER FOR INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
RALLY SUNDAY DECEMBER 2ND. 2 PM AT CITIZENSHIP OFFICE IN SURREY 13450 102nd Avenue Surrey (between 134th and 135th Street), 1 block from Surrey Central Skytrain Station
Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has informed Mr. Laibar Singh that he will be deported on Monday December 10th- ironically International Human Rights Day- after refusing his humanitarian and compassionate claim. It is outrageous that the Canadian government continues to push for the deportation of a paralyzed man who has received an unbelievable amount of support from the community and people all across Canada.
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