U.S. congresswoman Pramila Jayapal says she’s confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties is investigating reports of Iranian-Americans being stopped and questioned last weekend at the border between Washington state and B.C.
Jayapal’s spokesperson, Subhan Cheema, confirmed on Wednesday that the civil-rights office verbally confirmed to Jayapal’s office the probe will involve investigators travelling to Washington state to gather details.
Jayapal and other human rights groups condemned the up to 12-hour detentions of more than 60 Iranian-Americans last Saturday at the Blaine, Wash., border crossing.
Most of the border crossers who were stopped and delayed appeared to have U.S. passports and many were cleared for Nexus cards.
Jayapal lauded those willing to tell their personal experiences to illustrate the details of the incidents.
“An important step forward thanks to the courage of those who spoke up to tell their story and our community’s collective ability to quickly draw attention to this. Let’s get answers and make sure it never happens again,” Jayapal said in a news release.
Dozens of people, mostly of Iranian descent, were stopped in extra long checks at the Blaine, Wash., border crossing on Jan. 4, 2020, according to witnesses. (Elaine Thompson/Associated Press)
She and other human rights groups condemned the up to 12-hour detentions of more than 60 Iranian-Americans last Saturday at the Blaine, Wash., border crossing.
They wrote a joint letter to the administration demanding more information about the screenings over the Jan. 4 weekend.The letter requested copies of all “directives, orders, guidance, instructions, musters, whether verbal or in writing, or other documents and communications” issued to border officials.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency has said nobody was detained because of their background, and the delays at the border were related to staffing issues and a pop concert that large groups of Iranian-Americans were attending.
But Jayapal and human rights advocates countered, saying it seemed border officials had received some sort of “directive” to target people of Iranian heritage, given reports that up to 200 Iranians were affected by the border incidents.
CBC has contacted the Office of Homeland Security for comment.
Health Canada has authorized Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine that protects against currently circulating variants of the virus.
The protein-based vaccine, called Nuvaxovid, has been reformulated to target the JN.1 subvariant of Omicron.
It will replace the previous version of the vaccine, which targeted the XBB.1.5 subvariant of Omicron.
Health Canada recently asked provinces and territories to get rid of their older COVID-19 vaccines to ensure the most current vaccine will be used during this fall’s respiratory virus season.
Earlier this week, Health Canada approved Moderna’s updated mRNA COVID vaccine.
It is still reviewing Pfizer’s updated mRNA vaccine, with a decision expected soon.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version erroneously described the Novavax vaccine as an mRNA shot.
HALIFAX – The federal Fisheries Department says an endangered North Atlantic right whale has become entangled in gear in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The department says the whale was sighted Wednesday by a Transport Canada aerial surveillance team northeast of the Gaspé Peninsula, off Anticosti Island.
Officials say it’s not known what type of gear has entangled the whale or where the gear came from.
Based on observation, experts at the New England Aquarium have confirmed the whale is a female known as Chiminea.
The department says it is continuing to monitor the area and if the whale is located and conditions allow, efforts will be made to disentangle the animal.
Last October, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium estimated there were 356 North Atlantic right whales left on the planet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Canadian pop icon Nelly Furtado has been named one of three headliners for the opening ceremony of the upcoming Invictus Games.
Furtado, from Victoria, will share the stage with alt-pop star Roxane Bruneau of Delson, Que., and American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan.
They’ll be part of the show that opens the multi-sport event in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., in February.
The Invictus Games sees wounded, injured, and sick military service members and Veterans compete in 11 disciplines.
The Vancouver Whistler 2025 Games will be the first of seven editions to feature winter adaptive sports, including alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, skeleton and wheelchair curling.
British Columbia’s Lower Mainland will host the Invictus Games from Feb. 8-16.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
