According to an article in the Guardian, hundreds of Salvadorans deported by US were killed or abused.

​"Human Rights Watch has documented 138 deported Salvadorans murdered by gang members, police, soldiers, death squads and ex-partners between 2013 and 2019. The majority were killed within two years of deportation by the same perpetrators they had tried to escape by seeking safety in the US."

The report, Deported to Danger: United States deportation policies expose Salvadorans to death and abuse, identifies over 70 individuals who were subject to beatings, sexual assault and extortion or who went missing after being returned.

The Canadian Studies Program at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar, in the area of immigration and Canadian politics, broadly conceived. This is a 12-month, 100% time position. 80% of the holder’s time will be dedicated to projects developed in collaboration with the Thomas Garden Barnes Chair of Canadian Studies; 20% of the holder’s time is reserved for their own research and writing. The position start date is August 1, 2020. 

The Migrant Sex Workers  Legal Training project is hosting a legal training workshop webinar.

The training will offer practical information and skills for service providers working across all sectors who want to build their capacity to offer relevant and adequate support and services to migrant sex workers who have or may experience violence, discrimination or other forms of abuse. The training will build on the Guide for service providers and Full series of legal information developed for the 2017 project Upholding and promoting human rights, justice and access for migrant sex workers: resources for service providers. 
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Date:  January, 31, 2020 
Time : 12:00-1:15 pm 
Registration is now open.

An article in the Columbia Spectator highlights the need for unions for international student workers. The article discusses how few safeguards exist to ensure international student workers are not forced to work without rest or fired for no reason, given that they can be deported without appeal. 

"Without a strong union, international students will only receive gestures of goodwill with little guarantee of material commitments to needed protections. In response to a xenophobic state and vacillating universities, we have no choice but to organize." 

The Commission of the Pan American Health Organization on Equity and Health Inequalities in the Americas has released a new report, "Just Societies: Health Equity and Dignified Lives."

The report presents evidence to convey that majority of ill health is socially determined. They discuss how socioeconomic position, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, being a migrant—alone or in combination—can result in marked inequalities in health on life. Furthermore, the analysis shows how structural factors, such as climate change, environmental threats, and one’s relationship with the land, as well as the continuing impact of colonialism and racism, are slowing advancement towards a dignified life and reaping the highest possible standards of health. 

"The report provides examples of successful policies, programs, and actions implemented in countries and presents 12 recommendations to achieve health equity, calling for coordinated actions among local and national governments, transnational organizations, and civil society to jointly address the social determinants of health."

A community event on Migrant Collective Action is taking place on November 2 at the University of Toronto Multifaith Centre from 2-5:30 pm.

The forum will present findings from the "Promoting Migrant Collective Action," a participatory action research study supported by the Building Migrant Resilience in Cities Partnership. There will also be the opportunity to hear directly from migrant leaders working with South Asian Women’s Rights Organization and the Tibetan community in Parkdale to learn how they come together to address key concerns in their community through collective action. 

An article in the University of Toronto magazine discusses the strengths of Canada's private refugee scholarship program and provides suggestions for how it can be improved.

According to UofT Professor Audrey Macklin, research shows that privately sponsored refugees perform better in their new home compared to those who come via the government program. This is usually due to privately sponsored refugees arriving to a network of advocates who provide material support and also advice, contacts and instant social relationships. However, there is very little known about the sponsors themselves.

When Macklin and her research team evaluated the results of a survey completed by 530 sponsors, they determined that several recognized the power imbalances that are engraved into the structure of the private sponsorship program.

"In discussions of how the private sponsorship program could be improved, suggestions proposed included more formal training for individuals and groups sponsoring refugees and required background checks for participants, as well as changes to the tax laws that would allow people to treat contributions to a private sponsorship effort as charitable donations."