Travel Ban / en Syrian doctor affected by Trump travel ban tells his story /news/syrian-doctor-affected-trump-travel-ban-tells-his-story <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Syrian doctor affected by Trump travel ban tells his story</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-08-18-khaled-almilaji-getty.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=U7Zd2zor 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-08-18-khaled-almilaji-getty.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=4CJEjufb 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-08-18-khaled-almilaji-getty.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=1rYfl7uv 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-08-18-khaled-almilaji-getty.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=U7Zd2zor" alt> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-08-18T15:52:56-04:00" title="Friday, August 18, 2017 - 15:52" class="datetime">Fri, 08/18/2017 - 15:52</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Syrian doctor Khaled Almilaji greets his wife at Pearson Airport following U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban for Muslims. He was refused re-entry to the U.S. and offered a scholarship to ֱ (photo by Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star/Getty Images)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/trump" hreflang="en">Trump</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/travel-ban" hreflang="en">Travel Ban</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/us" hreflang="en">U.S.</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://torontolife.com/city/life/six-months-stuck-turkey-5000-miles-away-pregnant-wife/"><em>Toronto Life</em></a> features Syrian doctor <strong>Khaled Almilaji</strong>'s story in his own words.</p> <p>The Brown University graduate student found himself stranded&nbsp;overseas by the Trump administration’s travel ban. With his wife pregnant and unable to return to the U.S., the Syrian physician was offered a scholarship to ֱ for the executive master of health informatics program.</p> <p>The couple were reunited in Toronto in June.&nbsp;As a recognized humanitarian who has worked closely with the World Health Organization and United Nations to co-ordinate the delivery of vaccines to 1.4 million Syrian children and provide&nbsp;health care in Syria during the six-year-long civil war, Dr. Almilaji's tuition is being covered by the university. Dr.&nbsp;<strong>Michael Dan</strong>&nbsp;and Dr.&nbsp;<strong>Amira Dan</strong>&nbsp;and other private donors&nbsp;have come forward to support Dr. Almilaji while he is in Toronto.</p> <p>Dr. Almilaji, who was also featured on CBC's <em>Metro Morning</em>,&nbsp;will be studying at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I know the travel ban is all about politics, not security,” Dr. Almilaji says in the article. “It’s a game. But the people on Trump’s list have been suffering for many years, and the ban only increases that suffering.”</p> <h3><a href="/news/stranded-trump-travel-ban-syrian-doctor-begins-studies-university-toronto">Read more about Dr. Almilaji</a></h3> <p>He says he and his wife are looking forward to raising their daughter in Canada. Their baby is due in August.</p> <p>“We feel safe here,” he says. “In Toronto, the notion that everyone should be accepted and respected, regardless of their nationality or background, is something that’s practised on a daily basis. I saw it on my first day. In the airport, I looked around and saw people with different faces, different skin tones, different ethnicities, but the same spirit. To see a stable, established country like Canada using diversity to make itself richer and stronger has inspired me. This was what we were fighting for in Syria in 2011. That’s what I want for the future of my country.”</p> <h3><a href="https://torontolife.com/city/life/six-months-stuck-turkey-5000-miles-away-pregnant-wife/">Read the article</a></h3> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 18 Aug 2017 19:52:56 +0000 ullahnor 112898 at ֱ monitoring impact of revised U.S. travel ban /news/u-t-monitoring-impact-revised-us-travel-ban <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">ֱ monitoring impact of revised U.S. travel ban</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-06-29-trump-ban.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=BZHB2Yem 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-06-29-trump-ban.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=RI_iXu_n 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-06-29-trump-ban.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=NpM19B65 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-06-29-trump-ban.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=BZHB2Yem" alt> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-06-29T16:43:46-04:00" title="Thursday, June 29, 2017 - 16:43" class="datetime">Thu, 06/29/2017 - 16:43</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/trump" hreflang="en">Trump</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/travel-ban" hreflang="en">Travel Ban</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>With a revised travel ban going into effect tonight for visits to the U.S., the University of Toronto&nbsp;would like to remind faculty and students about supports available to them.</p> <p>Earlier this week, <a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/16-1436_l6hc.pdf">the U.S. Supreme Court ruled</a> that the revised immigration executive order, which&nbsp;took effect on March 16,&nbsp;would be upheld with the exception of foreigners holding “a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.”</p> <p>While visas already approved will not be revoked, the State Department said&nbsp;Wednesday that new applicants from Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Iran and Yemen must prove a relationship with a parent, spouse, child, adult son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law or sibling already in the United States to be eligible.&nbsp;Grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, fiancés or other extended family members are not considered to be close relationships, according to the guidelines.</p> <p>“We will be monitoring developments regarding this ruling to assess its impact to members of the university community and beyond. We would like to take this opportunity to remind the university community of available resources to those who may be impacted as a result of the reinstatement of the executive order,”&nbsp;said <strong>Joseph Wong</strong>, associate vice-president &amp; vice-provost, international student experience.</p> <h3>Students</h3> <p>For&nbsp;students&nbsp;travelling or planning to travel abroad who have questions or concerns, please call ֱ's safety abroad office at (416) 946-3929.&nbsp;In case of an emergency, reach the 24-hour, collect emergency line via campus police at (416) 978-2222.</p> <h3>Faculty &amp; Staff</h3> <p>For&nbsp;faculty, visiting professors, guest lecturers with questions, please email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:faculty.immigration@utoronto.ca">faculty.immigration@utoronto.ca</a>.&nbsp;Staff, research associates, postdoctoral fellows, please email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hr.immigration@utoronto.ca">hr.immigration@utoronto.ca</a>.</p> <h3>International Students</h3> <p>For&nbsp;international students at ֱ's downtown Toronto&nbsp;campus who may have questions or concerns about their own status, please call&nbsp;the Centre for International Experience at (416) 978-2564 or email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cie.information@utoronto.ca">cie.information@utoronto.ca</a>. For international students at ֱ Mississauga, call&nbsp;the International Experience Centre at&nbsp;(905) 569-4716 or email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:international.utm@utoronto.ca">international.utm@utoronto.ca</a>. For international students at U&nbsp;of T&nbsp;Scarborough,&nbsp;please call the&nbsp;International Student Centre at&nbsp;(416) 287-7518 or email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:isc@utsc.utoronto.ca">isc@utsc.utoronto.ca</a>.</p> <h3><a href="http://immigration.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/2017/06/26/statement-u-s-supreme-court-ruling-regarding-travel-restrictions-u-s/">See&nbsp;additional info</a></h3> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 29 Jun 2017 20:43:46 +0000 ullahnor 108965 at Under Trump, border is being used to police the population, says ֱ expert /news/under-trump-border-being-used-police-population-says-u-t-expert <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Under Trump, border is being used to police the population, says ֱ expert</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-03-07-trump.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=X3GBhU8u 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-03-07-trump.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=ldypIy-9 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-03-07-trump.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=NZZjopMx 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-03-07-trump.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=X3GBhU8u" alt="Photo of Trump supporters"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-03-07T12:45:26-05:00" title="Tuesday, March 7, 2017 - 12:45" class="datetime">Tue, 03/07/2017 - 12:45</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Trump supporters show their love this weekend when the U.S. president visited his Mar-a-Lago resort home in West Palm Beach, Fla. (photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/noreen-ahmed-ullah" hreflang="en">Noreen Ahmed-Ullah</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Noreen Ahmed-Ullah</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/trump" hreflang="en">Trump</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/travel-ban" hreflang="en">Travel Ban</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/immigration" hreflang="en">Immigration</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/refugees" hreflang="en">Refugees</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban has begun again.</p> <p>Manpreet Kooner, a&nbsp;woman travelling on a Canadian passport was turned away at the border and told to get a valid immigrant visa. Khizr Khan, the father of an American soldier killed in Iraq who has been a vocal opponent of Trump cancelled a speaking engagement in Toronto because he says he was notified that his travelling privilieges were under review.</p> <p><em>ֱ News</em> spoke with<strong> Emily Gilbert</strong>, associate professor of geography &amp; planning and Canadian studies, about confusion emerging over Trump's latest order banning citizens from specific Muslim-majority countries.&nbsp;</p> <h3><a href="/news/round-two-u-t-expert-analyzes-trump-s-newly-revised-travel-ban">Read more about constitutional questions over&nbsp;the new ban</a></h3> <hr> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__3688 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/gilbert-emily.jpg?itok=4NbzaNq3" style="width: 200px; height: 200px; margin: 10px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> <strong>How is the revised ban different than the last one? Any clue why Trump&nbsp;took off Iraq?</strong><br> &nbsp;<br> The new Executive Order bans travel from citizens of six countries: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Iraq has been removed from the list&nbsp;on the basis that there is close cooperation between the two governments that will ensure tighter vetting of immigrant applications.</p> <p>With respect to the six countries that remain on the ban, the Executive Order identifies reasons why the citizens are considered to be security threats. Yet, while the Executive Order argues that the governments of these countries have harboured terrorists, no evidence is provided to demonstrate the citizens of these countries are intending to commit terrorist attacks in the U.S.</p> <p>It could thus be argued that this Executive Order is discriminatory because as with the last one, the ban is sweeping in its approach, applies only to predominantly Muslim countries, with no proof of a national security threat.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>What are the issues you foresee with the revised ban?</strong><br> &nbsp;<br> The Executive Order also provides some clarity around who is exempt from the ban, such as dual citizens travelling on the passport of their other nationality, lawful residents such as green card holders, and those who already hold visas for travel. The lack of clarity on these issues in the previous Executive Order led to considerable chaos when it was implemented. There is no guarantee, however, that those named in these exemptions will not face prejudicial treatment at the border, e.g. secondary screening or scrutiny of their phones and laptops.</p> <p>How border agents implement directives is also discretionary and subjective. Canadians continue to be stopped at the border and refused entry to the U.S., for reasons that have nothing to do with the terms set out in either of the Executive Orders. For example&nbsp;on the weekend, Manpreet Kooner was denied entry at the Quebec-Vermont border and told she needed a visa to enter the U.S., even though she was born in Canada and was travelling on a Canadian passport.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br> The case of Khizr Khan also indicates that the border is being used much more extensively to police the population. Scheduled to travel to Toronto today&nbsp;to give a public talk on tolerance, Khan was forced to cancel his trip when he was informed that his “travel privileges” were suspended. The case is extremely suspect. It is highly unusual for someone to be contacted with this kind of information ahead of their travel. Furthermore, Khan is not a citizen of any of the countries identified in the ban: he was born in Pakistan&nbsp;and notably has held U.S. citizenship for more than 30 years. He is, however, Muslim, and has been an outspoken critic of Trump’s fear-mongering discourse, countering the president’s xenophobia with the example of his own son who died in 2004 while serving in Iraq. Who communicated with Khan about his lost “travel privileges?”&nbsp;Has his outspokenness or his religion led him to be placed on a no-fly list? These are pressing questions that need to be addressed to ensure that Khan’s constitutional rights have not been abrogated, and to understand the reach and extent of security agencies under the new Trump administration.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>What can Canada do?</strong><br> &nbsp;<br> There can be no doubt that Muslims will continue to feel targeted and vulnerable in the U.S. as a result of this new Executive Order. Trump has also continued to criminalize irregular migrants in the U.S.&nbsp;and has renewed promises for a wall at the border with Mexico. Thus, we can reasonably assume that dozens, if not hundreds, of people will try to seek asylum in Canada.</p> <p>Canada should immediately repeal the Safe Third Country Agreement, which forces asylum seekers to enter Canada away from the land border&nbsp;and thus increases their vulnerability. People are getting hurt as they try to find safety. And it is not reasonable to assume that the U.S. is a safe country. If it is really the case that “Canadians will welcome you” – as Prime Minister Trudeau has tweeted – then the Safe Third Country Agreement has to be repealed.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 07 Mar 2017 17:45:26 +0000 ullahnor 105468 at ֱ scholars write Op-Ed about not attending academic conferences in the U.S. /news/u-t-scholars-write-op-ed-about-not-attending-academic-conferences-us <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">ֱ scholars write Op-Ed about not attending academic conferences in the U.S.</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-03-07-aisha-oped.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=3mk9VZ79 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-03-07-aisha-oped.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=tzwQVyaH 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-03-07-aisha-oped.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=GNF7ghwn 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-03-07-aisha-oped.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=3mk9VZ79" alt="Photo of customs office"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-03-07T11:01:43-05:00" title="Tuesday, March 7, 2017 - 11:01" class="datetime">Tue, 03/07/2017 - 11:01</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">U.S.Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Customs and Border Protection building in Washingon, D.C. (photo by Mobilus In Mobili via Flickr)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/donald-trump" hreflang="en">Donald Trump</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/travel-ban" hreflang="en">Travel Ban</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/immigration" hreflang="en">Immigration</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>University of Toronto's<strong> Aisha Ahmad,&nbsp;</strong>an assistant professor of political science, and <strong>Minelle Mahtani</strong>, an associate professor of human geography and journalism, explain in <em>The Globe and Mail</em> why they cancelled plans to attend academic conferences and events in the United States because of Trump's&nbsp;recent travel bans.</p> <p>“Neither of us wanted to withdraw,” they write. “But we felt the situation was out of control. Consider that several ordinary Canadian Muslims, who were not from banned countries, have already been improperly detained and denied entrance by zealous U.S. border agents who clearly didn’t understand the parameters of the original immigration order.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Both Ahmad and Mahtani are affiliated with ֱ Scarborough. They state&nbsp;that as targeted racialized academics, they knew they&nbsp;were “being forced to accept loss and indignity.”</p> <p>“As the hysteria over the immigration ban and border-lock continues, it is apparent that U.S. border officials are not clear on how to implement these contested new rules, which continue to be fought in the courts,” they write. “Under these conditions, it is impossible for any of us to properly calculate the risks of travelling. For academics who are principal investigators in large global projects, this is a very serious cost calculation. One unlucky meeting with a careless border guard can jeopardize the ability of a researcher to complete their fieldwork, and thus risks their commitments made to both funding agencies and global research teams.”</p> <h3><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/trump-immigration-ban-ushers-in-an-age-of-academic-darkness/article34220048/">Read more of the&nbsp;Op-Ed</a></h3> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 07 Mar 2017 16:01:43 +0000 ullahnor 105467 at Round two: ֱ expert discusses constitutional questions arising over Trump's newly revised travel ban /news/round-two-u-t-expert-discusses-constitutional-questions-arising-over-trump-s-newly-revised <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Round two: ֱ expert discusses constitutional questions arising over Trump's newly revised travel ban</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-03-06-trump-travel-ban.jpg?h=fab47044&amp;itok=bnONZn2t 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-03-06-trump-travel-ban.jpg?h=fab47044&amp;itok=Uo7zjaXA 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-03-06-trump-travel-ban.jpg?h=fab47044&amp;itok=D1B4-94O 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-03-06-trump-travel-ban.jpg?h=fab47044&amp;itok=bnONZn2t" alt="Photo of travel ban protest"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-03-06T16:22:19-05:00" title="Monday, March 6, 2017 - 16:22" class="datetime">Mon, 03/06/2017 - 16:22</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Demonstrators in January protested U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban on seven Muslim countries. The suspicion that it looks like a thinly disguised Muslim travel ban remains, says ֱ's David Schneiderman (photo by Zach Gibson via Getty Images)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/noreen-ahmed-ullah" hreflang="en">Noreen Ahmed-Ullah</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Noreen Ahmed-Ullah</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/donald-trump" hreflang="en">Donald Trump</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/travel-ban" hreflang="en">Travel Ban</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/muslims" hreflang="en">Muslims</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/us-constitution" hreflang="en">U.S. Constitution</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-law" hreflang="en">Faculty of Law</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/human-rights" hreflang="en">Human Rights</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/politics" hreflang="en">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international" hreflang="en">International</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>U.S. President Donald Trump took a second attempt at his controversial travel ban Monday.</p> <p>For 90 days, the new order says, visas will not be issued to people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.&nbsp;Iraq has been taken off&nbsp;the visa blacklist.</p> <p>This time, the order appears to be trying to avoid some of&nbsp;the chaos of the earlier ban – the new order will not affect green card holders or anyone who already has a visa, nor is it expected to&nbsp;result in widespread airport detentions, which sparked protests and several lawsuits last time. But questions still remain over its legality.</p> <p>ֱ Law Professor <strong>David Schneiderman</strong>&nbsp;told&nbsp;<em>ֱ News</em>&nbsp;that while Trump may have an easier time in court with this version, federal courts may still be interested in the constitutional questions over the new order.</p> <hr> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__3684 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/scheiderman-david.jpg?itok=QtsOD2cX" style="width: 200px; height: 200px; margin: 10px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> <strong>Is the revised ban unconstitutional?</strong></p> <p>It is hard to predict what a court will say about this new revised Executive Order. The suspicion that it looks like a thinly disguised Muslim travel ban remains. While nationals from Iraq have been removed from the list of designated countries, all of the other states have predominantly Muslim populations. Moreover, as last week’s leaked Homeland Security document reveals, banning travellers from these countries is an unreliable indicator of potential terrorist activity.</p> <p>Just as federal courts in various states were interested in the possibility of violations of the First Amendment Establishment Clause by reason of religious discrimination in the first version of the travel ban – because of earlier statements made by then-candidate Trump and those of his top advisors – they might again be interested. But the revised Executive Order is designed to be more litigation-proof than the first, so the president may have an easier time in court than the last time around.</p> <p><strong>How is it different in terms of being able to prevent a federal judge from blocking it?</strong></p> <p>One significant revision is the exemption from the second travel ban of green card holders and those holding U.S. visas, whether outside or inside the U.S. This weakens the denial of ‘due process’ argument. Also the ban on Syrian refugees is not permanent but limited to 120 days.</p> <p>If the first version of the travel ban was overbroad, this second version is (only) a little more carefully tailored. By omitting those who have an existing connection to the U.S., there will be more difficulty obtaining ‘standing’ to challenge the Executive Order before federal courts. The state of Washington, which successfully claimed standing because of its proprietary interest in public universities within the state, may not as easily obtain standing this second time around.</p> <p>Indeed, standing to challenge the constitutionality of the ban (which requires showing a particularized and concrete injury) may prove more of a problem. Perhaps only litigants within the U.S. with a connection to banned overseas nationals – for instance, a U.S.-based citizen, green card or visa holder seeking to bring relatives to the U.S. – would be better situated to launch a challenge.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;<br> <strong>What are the legal issues this time?</strong></p> <p>Probably the issue of religious discrimination will be most prominent.</p> <p>In the first Executive Order, ‘persecuted religious minorities’ (mainly Christians) from within the banned countries were accorded an exemption from the ban. Having omitted any reference to religious minorities in the second Executive Order, this renders it a little less vulnerable to constitutional challenge.</p> <p>U.S. constitutional law (unlike most every other mature constitutional system) is not interested in indirect or ‘adverse impact’ discrimination. Only intentional discrimination is constitutionally cognizable. Courts may only find discrimination if it is on the face of, or just below, the record.</p> <p>As last time, the argument will be that statements made by candidate Trump and his advisors reveal that an anti-Muslim animus is behind the Executive Order. Weighing against any judicial intervention is the alleged national security interest served by the ban, coupled with the statutory authority the president possesses to issue this order under the Immigration and Nationality Act. When acting under the authority of Congress, presidential power ‘is at its maximum’ and so less susceptible to constitutional attack.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 06 Mar 2017 21:22:19 +0000 ullahnor 105457 at ֱ PhD student detained for hours in American airport this weekend /news/u-t-phd-student-detained-hours-american-airport-weekend <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">ֱ PhD student detained for hours in American airport this weekend</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-01-30-Ehsan.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=nXMDyTrl 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-01-30-Ehsan.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=fWFCB1Qm 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-01-30-Ehsan.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=HbYnoyCU 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-01-30-Ehsan.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=nXMDyTrl" alt> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-01-30T17:42:43-05:00" title="Monday, January 30, 2017 - 17:42" class="datetime">Mon, 01/30/2017 - 17:42</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Ehsan Alimohammadian was headed to San Francisco to present research findings at a scientific conference (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/noreen-ahmed-ullah" hreflang="en">Noreen Ahmed-Ullah</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Noreen Ahmed-Ullah</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international" hreflang="en">International</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/travel-ban" hreflang="en">Travel Ban</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/trumpm-us-politics" hreflang="en">Trumpm U.S. Politics</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>University of Toronto PhD student<strong> Ehsan Alimohammadian</strong> was among those detained at an American airport this weekend, in his case for 14 hours Friday night&nbsp;before being flown back to Toronto.</p> <p>The Iranian native who has been at ֱ for the last 2 ½ years was headed to a conference in San Francisco to present research findings to a group of his peers on making photonic devices, using light for&nbsp;biological applications.</p> <p>Instead, he was questioned for hours at San Francisco International Airport&nbsp;before being asked to sign a form “voluntarily” withdrawing from the U.S.</p> <p>Today, his supervisor, Professor <strong>Peter Robert Herman</strong>&nbsp;of the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering, presented that&nbsp;research on his behalf.</p> <p>“It’s very bad for the scientific community,” Alimohammadian said. “Science doesn’t have a nationality or religion. The scientific community shouldn’t be affected by a decision like this."</p> <p>Herman, who spoke to <em>ֱ News</em> from the conference, said the United States is caught in “an Orwellian world of ‘alternative truths.’”</p> <p>“My opening slides this afternoon will point this out and call on&nbsp;American scientists and conference organizers to think hard about how to save their country from the present dangerous path. &nbsp;I am appalled that Ehsan had to suffer this poor welcome and want to remind him that America is great…at least many parts are. &nbsp;</p> <p>“The American attendees&nbsp;and conference organizers are uniformly appalled. It warms my heart&nbsp;to see that all non-American attendees I have conversed with have such a uniform view of America’s wrong path.”</p> <p>Back in September, Alimohammadian heard that his research paper was chosen to be presented&nbsp;at a conference for SPIE, <a href="https://spie.org/">the international society for optics and photonics</a>. His research looks at manipulating&nbsp;light to make photonic devices that have applications in DNA and sub-cellular studies.</p> <p>He applied for a business visa and was approved back in November.</p> <p>He cleared customs at Pearson Airport Friday evening.</p> <p>But while his flight headed to California, things changed on the ground. U.S. President Donald Trump’s travel ban against seven predominantly Muslim countries&nbsp;took effect.</p> <p>“It was while I was in the air, I guess, that this became effective so when I reached California, my visa was revoked. I was escorted by two Homeland Security officers and they started to ask&nbsp;questions and search all of my bags.”</p> <p>Alimohammadian says&nbsp;the officers were “nice” and fed him&nbsp;dinner and breakfast and allowed him to call his dad in Iran and email his professor at ֱ. But they began questioning him again at about 2 a.m. Saturday for another 2 hours and searched his bags – even after he agreed to sign&nbsp;a waiver to return to Canada.</p> <p>“I couldn’t understand why they were searching through my stuff. The bags had already gone through security, and I already accepted that I will go back where I came from.”</p> <p>After the questioning, he says, he signed the waiver. He flew out at 11 am Saturday. Two Homeland Security officers&nbsp;escorted him back to his flight to&nbsp;Toronto. U.S. officials took his passport, and he didn't get it back until he arrived in Canada.&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 30 Jan 2017 22:42:43 +0000 ullahnor 104240 at