Latest news with #U.S.Immigration
CBC
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Canadian trans musicians cancel U.S. shows citing fear and policies targeting gender identity
Toronto singer-songwriter Bells Larsen and Halifax pop artist T. Thomason have both announced today that they are cancelling their U.S. tour dates and a festival appearance, respectively, due to safety concerns and visa policies that discriminate against trans artists. "I received an email on Tuesday from the American Federation of Musicians stating that I am no longer able to apply for a visa because U.S. Immigration now only recognizes identification that corresponds with one's assigned sex at birth," Larsen posted on Instagram. "To put it super plainly, because I'm trans (and have an M on my passport), I can't tour in the States." Larsen has had to cancel six tour dates following the upcoming release of his sophomore album, Blurring Time, which was crafted to follow Larsen's transition, harmonizing the artist's pre- and post-transition voice. "This is indescribably gutting," wrote singer-songwriter Georgia Harmer, who worked on Blurring Time, on Larsen's Instagram post. "I'm so sorry this is happening right when people need the healing power of your songs more than ever. I love you so much. Standing with you. Got your back forever." "This is absolutely horrific and incredibly unfair. I'm so, so sorry that this is happening to you," wrote rapper Cadence Weapon. "All the best to you on your Canadian dates and hope to see you again soon." Thomason was scheduled to play Maine's All Roads Festival in May, but posted in a video on Instagram today that although he has a current visa until June — given to him before U.S. President Donald Trump took office — he doesn't feel safe going across the border "as a Canadian trans guy." "I just don't feel like it's worth the risk," Thomason said. Trump declared in his inaugural address on Jan. 20 that "it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female," and swiftly issued executive orders and changes to the government's policies on gender and diversity. Those would include Secretary of State Marco Rubio's memo titled " Guidance for Visa Adjudicators on Executive Order 14201: 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports,'" which encompassed the directive that "all visas must reflect an applicant's sex at birth." With increasing reports of people being detained by ICE or refused entry into the States, more and more artists are reconsidering tours over U.S. border detention fears — including Neil Young. "When I go to play music in Europe, if I talk about Donald J. Trump, I may be one of those returning to America who is barred or put in jail to sleep on a cement floor with an aluminum blanket," the dual Canadian-American citizen said recently. Larsen revealed in his Instagram post that he's been undecided for weeks as to whether he should follow through with his U.S. tour dates. "If random people are getting randomly questioned/stopped/detained at borders, how can I — as someone wanting to make money abroad by exhibiting my lived experience as a trans person — expect to pass go and get out of jail free?" he wrote. "This new policy has crushed my dreams. I'm cradling a very broken heart and the realization that I don't know if or when I will be able to tour in the States again." In his cancellation announcement, Thomason mentioned Larsen's news, and pointed to the wider effects this discrimination will have on Canadian trans artists. "The U.S. is a huge market, there's a lot of weight put on being able to break into that market," he said. "There's a lot of record labels and managers who really look to that as a benchmark of viability and success with an artist. And if you're an artist that is legally not able to get into the U.S., that's a huge hit to your career." "I think we really need to see support from the industry right now," he continued, "and we need to be shown by our community, or music community in Canada, this is not OK, and they're not gonna let trans artists be forgotten and just be sort of a brief headline and then everybody moves on and we deal with the consequences and ripple effects by ourselves. I really, really hope that we're not gonna let that happen."
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE arrests woman who spent years living in church and creating network of sanctuary spaces in Denver area
A prominent activist who created a network of sanctuary spaces for migrants was detained outside her work Monday by U.S. Immigration, Customs and Enforcement agents who 'laughed in her face,' her family said. Jeanette Vizguerra, described as a 'warrior' and a 'pillar of Denver's immigrant rights community' by family, friends and colleagues, was arrested in the parking lot of a Target Monday afternoon. She spent three years living in a church in Denver, which inspired her to become an immigration advocate and to create the Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition to protect immigrants who fear deportation. Campaigners fear she has been targeted because of her history of activism in the state. The mother-of-four's immigration status is not known but a petition calling for her freedom claims she is a permanent U.S. resident. She is being held at a privately-run detention facility in Aurora and campaigners fear she could be moved out of state. 'My mom on Monday, March 17th got detained outside of her job at Target, and was arrested by a few ICE officers while they laughed in her face,' Vizguerra's daughter Luna Baez wrote on a Gofundme page. 'My mom has fought relentlessly for her community and it is time for all of us to now come together and show all the support for her like she has done to us,' she added. The Independent has contacted ICE for comment. Vizguerra has lived in Colorado for 30 years, according to the petition. She was targeted for deportation to Mexico in 2009 after she was pulled over for a traffic violation. The incident triggered immigration proceedings and her fight to remain in the U.S. Vizguerra was actively posting about the Trump administration's immigration crackdown on her Facebook page hours before she was detained. She amplified an Instagram post Monday by another user that said: 'The public deserves to know more about the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda.' It was accompanied by a Denver Post news headline that read: 'Denver's ICE field office seeks to expand detention space by nearly 1,000 more beds.' Democratic Colorado Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet both called for the agency to release Vizguerra. 'There are serious concerns about ICE's actions to detain Jeanette Vizguerra,' Hickenlooper said in a social media post. 'Targeting a mother who has been an active part of our Colorado community for nearly three decades will not fix our broken immigration system or secure our border.' 'Jeanette Vizguerra is a mother and pillar in her community. I am deeply concerned about ICE's actions to detain her without any due process, like a deportation order,' Bennet added. 'ICE should ensure Jeanette has legal counsel and immediately release her.' In January, the Department of Homeland Security said that 'criminals would no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrests.' But the move has faced resistance and lawsuits from churches and activists. She is the latest to be targeted in the sweeping action by the Department of Homeland Security. This week a Brown University doctor, Rasha Alawieh, was deported to Lebanon despite a federal judge's order she must remain in the U.S. and a German green card holder is being detained by the immigration agency after being arrested at Boston Logan International Airport. And a woman who was brought to the U.S. at eight-months-old was deported to Laos despite never having stepped foot in the country. President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan said that he 'doesn't care' what judges say or rule when it comes to immigration in an interview this week.
The Independent
18-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
ICE arrests woman who spent years living in church and creating network of sanctuary spaces in Denver area
A prominent activist who created a network of sanctuary spaces for migrants was detained outside her work Monday by U.S. Immigration, Customs and Enforcement agents who 'laughed in her face,' her family said. Jeanette Vizguerra, described as a 'warrior' and a 'pillar of Denver 's immigrant rights community' by family, friends and colleagues, was arrested in the parking lot of a Target Monday afternoon. She spent three years living in a church in Denver, which inspired her to become an immigration advocate and to create the Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition to protect immigrants who fear deportation. Campaigners fear she has been targeted because of her history of activism in the state. The mother-of-four's immigration status is not known but a petition calling for her freedom claims she is a permanent U.S. resident. She is being held at a privately-run detention facility in Aurora and campaigners fear she could be moved out of state. 'My mom on Monday, March 17th got detained outside of her job at Target, and was arrested by a few ICE officers while they laughed in her face,' Vizguerra's daughter Luna Baez wrote on a Gofundme page. 'My mom has fought relentlessly for her community and it is time for all of us to now come together and show all the support for her like she has done to us,' she added. The Independent has contacted ICE for comment. Vizguerra has lived in Colorado for 30 years, according to the petition. She was targeted for deportation to Mexico in 2009 after she was pulled over for a traffic violation. The incident triggered immigration proceedings and her fight to remain in the U.S. Vizguerra was actively posting about the Trump administration's immigration crackdown on her Facebook page hours before she was detained. She amplified an Instagram post Monday by another user that said: 'The public deserves to know more about the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda.' It was accompanied by a Denver Post news headline that read: 'Denver's ICE field office seeks to expand detention space by nearly 1,000 more beds.' Democratic Colorado Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet both called for the agency to release Vizguerra. 'There are serious concerns about ICE's actions to detain Jeanette Vizguerra,' Hickenlooper said in a social media post. 'Targeting a mother who has been an active part of our Colorado community for nearly three decades will not fix our broken immigration system or secure our border.' 'Jeanette Vizguerra is a mother and pillar in her community. I am deeply concerned about ICE's actions to detain her without any due process, like a deportation order,' Bennet added. 'ICE should ensure Jeanette has legal counsel and immediately release her.' In January, the Department of Homeland Security said that 'criminals would no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrests.' But the move has faced resistance and lawsuits from churches and activists. She is the latest to be targeted in the sweeping action by the Department of Homeland Security. This week a Brown University doctor, Rasha Alawieh, was deported to Lebanon despite a federal judge's order she must remain in the U.S. and a German green card holder is being detained by the immigration agency after being arrested at Boston Logan International Airport. And a woman who was brought to the U.S. at eight-months-old was deported to Laos despite never having stepped foot in the country. President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan said that he 'doesn't care' what judges say or rule when it comes to immigration in an interview this week.
