Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Immigration Law Firm Blog

At least 1500 war criminals in Canada

Desire Munyaneza, a failed refugee claimant, has now been sentenced to the harshest penalty under law. However, 1500 other war criminals and human rights abuser are in Canada, both known and unknown. Read more →

Refugee News

National Post has an article on the murder of a rejected refugee claimant from Mexico. One wonders what Jason Kenney has in mind for the refugee reforms (article here) but some educated guesses would have to include fast-tracking refugee claimants from certain countries and additional decision making responsibilities for tribunal officers (see also the National Post article here). Any reform would have to address the current system which encourages bogus refugee claims. In essence, the economic benefit of a refugee claim includes the ability to remain in Canada and work for years. Getting to a quick yes or a quick no is good for genuine refugee claimants that can establish their claim for protection and good for Canada which can effectively and efficiently remove individuals and preserve the integrity of the immigration system of this country. Read more →

Marrying for immigration

Just finished watching the w5 news program on immigration marriage fraud. Julie Taub, an Ottawa immigration lawyer, suggests that immigration law be changed to grant only conditional status in Canada to the sponsored spouse. I'm not sure I agree. This could result in abuse and coercion as well - a method of control by the sponsor over the immigrant spouse. Immigration minister Jason Kenney is indicating changes and reforms are imminent. To some degree I am in agreement with what Kenney stated. Individuals need to be responsible for their own choices. Immigration to Canada is a significant benefit and could be an incentive to unscrupulous individuals. As a result, sponsors need to take appropriate precautions. As it stands visa officers test the bona fides of a marriage by way of an interview of the sponsored spouse. This may be insufficient to protect duped sponsors or the integrity of the system. Given the actions of unscrupulous immigration consultants (Pinnacle Immigration was captured on video by w5 discussing a sponsorship for 40000) and the plethora of fraudulent marriages perhaps follow up interviews should be done by immigration after the immigrant spouse arrives in Canada. Read more →

The more things change...

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Treatment of Tamil boat people evokes memories of the Chinese migrants that sailed to the west coast 10 years ago and the Komagata Maru in 1914 which sat in harbour for 2 months and returned to India where 20 individuals were killed after disembarking. Read more →

An Interesting Week before the IAD

Hearings before the Immigration Appeal Division involving appeal against a removal order based on criminality, and an appeal against medical inadmissibility when the principal applicant has passed away. Read more →