Press Releases

Toronto – In a stunning set back for poor immigrants, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear Nell Toussaint’s leave application to determine her constitutional right to a waiver of the $550 application fee for the Humanitarian and Compassionate application, effectively slamming shut the door on thousands of people seeking to regularize their immigration status.

"I went to the Supreme Court of Canada to ask that the $550 fee that immigrants have to pay before their Humanitarian and Compassionate application is even processed be waived for poor people like me," explained Nell Toussaint. "I don't understand why the Supreme Court Justices refused to even hear this case."

No One Is Illegal - Toronto
http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org
www.twitter.com/noii_to

Media Release
June 22, 2011

CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE'S RESIGNATION DEMANDED

Toronto -- Immigrant and refugee rights advocates from No One Is Illegal - Toronto and other organizations are demanding disciplinary action against Trustee Frank D'Amico at a special meeting of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) at 80 Sheppard Avenue East on Thursday evening (June 23) at 7pm for hateful, anti-immigrant emails sent to a concerned social work student earlier this month.

The correspondence began when the placement student Nadia Saad wrote to trustees, alarmed that schools were violating TCDSB policy and the Ontario Education Act by denying admission to an undocumented student she was working with. "I contacted several trustees to bring this issue to their attention. Trustee D'Amico's response was vile. It left me shaking," she said.

NO ONE IS ILLEGAL - TORONTO
http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org
www.twitter.com/noii_to

Immediate Release
June 20, 2011, World Refugee Day

Human smuggling bill about jailing refugees and migrants
Migrant Justice Activists hang Anti-Bill C-4 banner on World Refugee Day

Toronto - Shortly after 8am on World Refugee Day (June 20), migrant justice activists from No One Is Illegal - Toronto hung a 40ft x 10ft banner off the side of a bridge overlooking the QEW in downtown Toronto reading "Canada Jails Refugees" to shed light on hidden provisions within Bill C-4. Photos of the banner are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/31000504@N06/5852901210/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY
APRIL 29, 2011

Abeer Majeed, 647 928 5729, abeeramajeed@gmail.com
Mohan Mishra, 416 270 8947, mohan.mishra.to@gmail.com
www.twitter.com/noii_to | online: http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/597

Immigrants take to the streets to oppose Harper Tories
May 1, 2011. 1pm: Rally at Queen W & Jameson, 2pm: March to Dufferin Grove.

Toronto - An immigrant and refugee rights demonstration will take place on the eve of the federal elections, criticizing the Tory immigration policy record and its 'very ethnic' vote strategy. People are marching to protest Harper, to call for status for undocumented and migrant workers and public services for immigrant families. Part of the 125th International Workers Day celebrations across the world, the colorful, festive protest will begin in Parkdale and march to Dufferin Grove with mini-concerts and stops along the way.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

APRIL 27, 2011

May 1: Elections eve demonstration for Immigrant rights, against Tory 'very ethnic' vote strategy

Toronto - An immigrant rights demonstration is being planned for the eve of the federal elections, criticizing the Tory immigration policy record and its 'very ethnic' vote strategy. People are marching to protest Harper, to demand status for undocumented and migrant workers and public services for immigrant families. Part of the 125th International Workers Day celebrations across the world, the 6th Annual May Day of Action will include undocumented people, refugee claimants, Filipino caregivers, Mexican, Thai and Caribbean migrant agricultural workers from across Ontario as well as community groups, labour unions, student unions, indigenous sovereignty and health organizations. The colorful, festive protest will begin in Parkdale and march to Dufferin Grove with mini-concerts and stops along the way.

MEDIA ADVISORY

March 31, 2011.

twitter.com/noii_to
toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/587

Secret Laws Creep into Immigrant Family Bedrooms

As Harper launches election campaign, sneaky immigration laws are introduced that deny permanent residence to immigrant families. If passed, spouses who have been in a relationship with their Canadian sponsor for two years or less will be denied access to permanent residence for two or more years after their arrival in Canada. Harpers laws will force immigrant women to remain in abusive relationships with their spouses as a pre-requisite for gaining permanent status and will further entrench temporariness in an immigration system, already opposed to family re-unification. Anti-violence against women activists, community agencies and immigrant rights advocates are organizing a press conference to condemn these undemocratic regulatory changes.

WHAT: Press Conference