Canadian Immigration Blawg

Canadian Jailed in India on Visa Violation

Canadian Saul Itzhayek has been jailed and sentenced for 3 years for entering India without a visa from Nepal. Imprisoned in the Bihar city of Motihari, Itzhayek has already been incarcerated for 8 months - with, what he claims is inadequate assistance from Canadian authorities. Full article here, excerpt:

Itzhayek was in Nepal on a business trip and sent a driver into India to pick up a money transfer. The Indian police stopped the driver at the border, and in turn asked Itzhayek to come into India and explain what was going on. He knew he didn't have a valid visa, but says the police offered him safe passage. When he arrived in the country, he was questioned and then charged with "violating India's sovereignty."

In a sworn statement, Itzhayek says the police demanded a bribe. He offered them 50,000 rupees, which is about $1,200, but says they wanted 500,000 rupees, and wouldn't give him time to raise the money. "Now, or forget it."

So, no bribe, no release, and ultimately - three years in prison.

"I know they're all corrupt here," he says, bitterly. "I've told them they can check my file. I've done nothing wrong in 42 years. I have two kids, and all I want to do is go home."

In all the time he's been in prison, Itzhayek has had three Canadian consular visits, and is extremely resentful and critical of the support he's received from his own government.

"They don't want to help you. You're on your own. That's what they told me."

"If this was Stephen Harper's son, I'm sure he'd be out in 24 hours."

Even the prison superintendant indicates that Itzhayek is not a criminal.

My visa actually expired in India and it was a trek into the Byzantine world of Indian bureaucracy to leave in 2005 - which must pale in insignificance next to Itzhayek's suffering - he's already lost 30 kg (I doubt however that incarceration in India will ever become a popular weight loss strategem).

Hopefully Itzhayek's soujourn and suffering will end soon with his return to Canada.

Hmmm...perhaps an exchange of visa violators can be arranged - Canada can send Mr. Laibar Singh to India in exchange for Itzhayeks' return.

Laibar Singh - the saga continues

It appears that the inability to deport Laibar has taken a toll on CBSA enforcement officers:

As first reported in The Globe and Mail this week, Mr. Moran has expressed concerns about the suggestion that the case of Mr. Singh has gone on too long, frustrating B.C.-based members of his union.

A confidential assessment of the situation, prepared for Mr. Moran by a B.C. employee of the agency's removals unit, said most officers feel "not removing Mr. Singh makes us look impotent."

The author of the assessment says officers are "very frustrated about how the case is being handled, and how it makes us look."

It appears that CBSA enforcement have been advised that the removal of Laibar Singh is a question of when, not if.

**** Update *****

The Vancouver Sun has published an article detailing the costs incurred by the Canadian government - or more appropriately, by Canadian taxpayers by the ongoing Laibar Singh saga.

In essence:

...

In response to an Access to Information request from The Sun, the Canada Border Services Agency provided a breakdown of the $62,947 it has spent so far on the Singh case:

- Three payments to Fox Flight Air Ambulance for flights that never went ahead: $6,900 for the first, $7,300 for the second and $29,900 for the third.

- $1,800 in officer overtime and $1,100 for officer travel.

- $1,147 for an independent medical assessment of Singh.

- $1,600 in detention costs (Singh was briefly detained last August), plus $13,100 for Singh's medical costs while detained.

...

In addition to the money the CBSA has spent trying to remove Singh, he's also cost the province's health care system close to half a million dollars.

According to the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Singh's care at the Vancouver General Hospital spinal unit cost $408,000, while his care at George Pearson cost $71,000.

Fraser Health has said its care of Singh cost it $12,900 -- bringing the government's total tab for Singh's medical care to $491,900.

Gill said that the Abbotsford temple where Singh was staying has just paid off the $12,900 bill as it earlier pledged to do.

  Also - News 1130 reports of an extension granted until March 10, 2008.

Basque Terrorist Fights Deportation

Ivan Apaolaza Sancho, a suspected Basque terrorist is fighting to stay in Canada.

Accused of participation in 2 attempted car bombings, Sancho's counsel intends to put the Spanish government "on trial" to keep his client in Canada.

National Post Article here.

Former Live in Caregiver Murdered

The life of an immigrant is never easy.

A newcomer to Canada leaves behind his or her family, friends, home and familiar environs in hopes of a brighter future in this country. There are many success stories - especially tragic are instances where the dream ends.

Arcelie Laoagan's life ended violently after working a late shift in downtown Calgary. A mother of five from the Philippines, Arcelie originally came to Canada as a live in caregiver and wanted to sponsor her five children and husband to come live with her here.

Globe and Mail article here.

A church leader spoke of Arcelie to the Calgary Herald:

"She sacrificially lived for her family, to make a way for them to have a better life in Canada," Zoeteman said on Saturday of the woman with the magnetic personality. "Her nature was always to have two jobs. It was her intent to pay the way for her entire family to come here as well."

Laoagan's employer - West Canadian - has set up a trust fund for Laoagan's family and has contributed $10,000.

It appears that Laoagan had initiated the process of sponsoring her family to Canada. With the death of the sponsor, those applications are now in jeopardy.