A Dallas attorney has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.
Special agents with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case.
Bilal Ahmed Khaleeq, 47, will remain on supervised release pending sentencing, which is set for June 4. Co-defendant Amna Cheema, 37, a Pakistani national, previously pleaded guilty to her role in the scheme and was sentenced to time served.
According to the plea agreement and factual resume, in June 2015, Khaleeq and others knowingly and unlawfully conspired and agreed together and with each other to unlawfully facilitate and enter into a marriage between co-defendant, Amna Cheema and a U.S. citizen (Person A) for the purpose of evading immigration laws. Cheema and Person A were married in Dallas County, Texas, and subsequently filed U.S. permanent residence applications with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in July 2015.
In exchange for agreeing to marry Cheema, Person A was paid $745. Co-defendant Cheema also admitted engaging in discussions with Khaleeq and Person A at Khaleeq’s law office on more than one occasion to discuss preparation for the USCIS interview and required documentary evidence including joint bank accounts, tax returns, and bills concerning their joint residence. According to co-defendant Cheema, Khaleeq also represented the couple at the USCIS interview in April 2016 and advised them on additional evidence to make the marriage appear legitimate.
“Really happy to receive categorical assurance from Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau that his country does not support any separatist movement. His words are a big relief to all of us here in India and we look forward to his government’s support in tackling fringe separatist elements.” – Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Twitter.
Amritsar (Punjab) (PTI): Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday handed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a list of nine Canada-based operatives allegedly involved in target-killings and other hate crimes in Punjab, including financing and supplying of weapons for terrorist activities, as the ‘Khalistan’ issue featured prominently in the talks between the two leaders.
The leaders held a 40-minute long meeting at a hotel here after Trudeau paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and visited the Partition Museum.
Amarinder Singh urged Trudeau to initiate stern action against such elements.
Trudeau assured the Punjab chief minister that his country did not support “any separatist movement in India or elsewhere,” said Raveen Thukral, the chief minister’s media advisor.
The “categorical assurance” from Trudeau came after Amarinder Singh sought the Canadian prime minister’s cooperation in cracking down on fringe elements, constituting a miniscule percentage of Canadian population, he added.
Citing the separatist movement in Quebec, Trudeau said he had dealt with such threats all his life and was fully aware of the dangers of violence, Thukral said.
“Really happy to receive categorical assurance from Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau that his country does not support any separatist movement. His words are a big relief to all of us here in India and we look forward to his government’s support in tackling fringe separatist elements,” Singh tweeted after the meeting.
The Punjab chief minister gave Trudeau a list of nine Category ‘A’ Canada-based operatives alleged to be involved in hate crimes, terrorist activities and trying to radicalize youth and children here, Thukral said.
Significantly, Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Punjab Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu were also present at the meeting.
Amarinder Singh shook hands with Sajjan during the talks.
Only last year, Amarinder Singh had refused to meet Harjit Sajjan when he visited Punjab, accusing him of being a “Khalistani sympathiser”.
According to officials, the Punjab police believes that the conspirators and financiers in the targeted killing cases in the state were operating from foreign soil, including Canada, UK and Italy.
Freedom of speech was enshrined in the Indian Constitution but separatists and hardliners and those propagating violence had lost any such right as they were rejected outright by the people of Punjab, Singh said.
He stressed that people contesting elections on the plank of a separate Sikh state ended up losing their security deposits, said Thukral.
Trudeau assured Amarinder Singh of addressing all concerns that were raised, saying he looked forward to closer ties with India, particularly Punjab, which he was happy to see progressing well.
During the meeting, Amarinder Singh called for cooperation between India and Canada on the issues of terrorism, crime and drugs, while seeking greater sharing of relevant information in the interest of national and international security.
Responding to concerns raised in some quarters on reports of human rights violations, the chief minister said any aberrations were always dealt with strictly, with even policemen being sent to jail by the courts.
He reiterated his government’s firm commitment to the protection of human rights of all individuals, Thukral said.
Amritsar (PTI): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family on Wednesday offered prayers at the Golden Temple here. Trudeau described the visit to the holiest of Sikh shrines as an “honour” and stressed that they were “filled with grace and humility”.
Clad in an off-white ‘kurta-pyjama’ and with a saffron-coloured cloth covering his head, the Canadian premier, along with his wife and two of his three children, bowed with folded hands before the holy book at the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and the children were also attired in traditional Punjabi outfits. Gregoire Trudeau wore a light green salwar-kameez with a ‘dupatta’.
“What an honour to be so well received at such a beautiful, meaningful place. We are filled with grace and humility,” he wrote in the visitors’ book before leaving the shrine.
The prime minister, his family and a delegation of Canadian ministers including Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan reached ‘Harmandir Sahib’, popularly known as the Golden Temple, at 11:55 a.m.
Union minister of state (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and Punjab Cultural Affairs and Tourism Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu also accompanied the prime minister to the Golden Temple.
A red-coloured carpet was laid out by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee at the temple complex in honour of the visitors.
Shiromani Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Gobind Singh Longowal welcomed them at the Gurdwara.
During their almost hour-long visit to the shrine, Trudeau and his family greeted devotees with folded hands while scores of visitors could be seen holding up their cell phones to take pictures and videos of the dignitaries.
After reaching the Golden Temple, they went to the Guru Ram Das Jee Langar hall where Trudeau and his family tried rolling out some ‘parshada’ (chapattis). Devotees do voluntary kitchen work in the hall.
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Vikas Khanna was seen giving tips to the family on ways to make the ‘parshada with the help of a chakla belan (board and rolling pin).
The family appeared amused while shaping out the chapattis, with Sajjan also trying his hand at it.
The Trudeau family also got their pictures taken at the Golden Temple complex.
They took a ‘parikarma’ – a walk around the marbled periphery – while ‘Gurbani’, religious hymns, played in the background. The prime minister, his wife and the two children were presented with a ‘siropa’ (robe of honour) inside the shrine.
The visiting dignitaries were surrounded by Canadian security officials and Punjab police personnel in mufti. The SGPC task force of ‘sewadars’ or volunteers formed a security ring around the dignitaries.
The Trudeau family was later honoured by the SGPC at the information centre of the Golden Temple.
The prime minister was presented with a specially-crafted 24-carat gold-plated portrait of the shrine and a gold-plated ‘Siri Sahib’ (a six-inch sword), the robe of honour and a shawl.
Gregoire Trudeau was presented with a woollen shawl and a set of religious books.
Later, Trudeau visited the Partition Museum, which showcases documents and other material related to the partition of India .
Earlier, Puri and Sidhu received Trudeau and a delegation of Canadian ministers and MPs at the Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport. They were accompanied at the airport by Amritsar Commissioner of Police S S Srivastva and Deputy Commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, officials said.
Tight security arrangements were put in place by the Punjab police in Amritsar with over 1,500 police personnel deployed in the holy city for the visit. Senior police officials including SSPs and DIGs, besides a SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team, had also been deployed in the city.
THE B.C. Liberals on Tuesday said the BC NDP have revealed that they remain committed to hiking taxes and failing to deliver on key promises.
B.C. Liberal finance co-critic Shirley Bond said: “The BC NDP have no plan to grow the economy, no plan on how to pay for all the spending,” says “The only idea they have is hiking taxes to the tune of $5.5 billion. Since the NDP have been government they have put in place or announced $8 billion in annual taxation measures. The majority of those measures hit job creators, the very people who help grow and strengthen our economy.”
The BC NDP promised to eliminate the MSP but never spoke about replacing it with a payroll tax that will hammer small business. As well, the NDP have increased the carbon tax and removed the revenue neutrality which means more money coming out of the pockets of the middle class who are struggling with affordability and need it most.
“The NDP have also made clear they made many false promises during the last election. Yes, there are investments in child care but the government promised $10-a-day child care. We found out today that it doesn’t exist and it looks like it never will,” said B.C. Liberal child care critic Laurie Throness.
“There is no relief for commuters in the Lower Mainland, except for the Pattullo Bridge which will only provide a 10 per cent capacity increase,” said B.C. Liberal finance co-critic Tracy Redies. “There is no widening of Highway 1, no Surrey rapid transit and the 80,000 daily commuters who use the George Massey Tunnel are now completely forgotten.”
This budget has spending growing at twice the rate of government revenue growth and the fiscal plan is wholly dependent upon a growing economy. However, this plan has no measures to grow the economy to fund the NDP’s spending spree, said the B.C. Liberals.
“If all of this sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because we’ve heard this story before,” noted Bond. “Welcome back to the NDP of the 1990s and remember, the sequel is always worse.”
THE World Sikh Organization of Canada said on Tuesday it is disappointed by a ruling of the Quebec Court of Appeal upholding the Quebec National Assembly’s prohibition on the kirpan.
In January 2011, the appellants in the case, Harminder Kaur and Balpreet Singh, were part of a WSO delegation that had been invited to make a presentation at the Quebec National Assembly on on Bill 94 which would deny essential government services and public employment to individuals who wear facial coverings. The WSO’s team was excluded from the hearing before the Committee on Institutions because they were wearing the kirpan. The Sikh faith requires initiated men and women to wear the five Sikh articles of faith, including the kirpan, at all times.
Quebec Court of Appeal Justice Patrick Healy rejected the WSO’s appeal in a decision released on Monday on the grounds that the Quebec National Assembly may exclude individuals based on parliamentary privilege. The Superior Court decision had upheld the authority of the QNA to “exclude kirpans from its precincts as an assertion of parliamentary privilege over the exclusion of strangers.”
Notably, Justice Healy remarked in the decision, “I make no comment whether the assembly’s exercise of the privilege to exclude the kirpan is a wise decision.”
Mukhbir Singh
WSO President Mukhbir Singh said: “While we are disappointed by the Quebec Court of Appeal’s decision, we aren’t surprised by it. Even the Multani case, which secured the right of Sikhs to wear the kirpan in Canada, was not successful at the Quebec Court of Appeal and had to be argued at the Supreme Court of Canada. In Canada, the Quebec National Assembly and prisons are the only two places with absolute prohibitions on the kirpan. It is unfortunate that the issue of the kirpan has been highly politicized in Quebec and is no longer about human rights and security but about identity politics. We are reviewing the Quebec Court of Appeal’s decision and an appeal to the Supreme Court is certainly something we are considering.”
THE Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch (CBABC) on Tuesday welcomed the BC government budget announcement which provides increased investments in the justice sector for the next three years. These include:
Nearly $4.8 million in additional annual funding for legal aid, with a focus on Indigenous and family law services;
A further $3.8 million per year to fund expansion of Parents Legal Centres;
$5 million more per year for sheriff services and court staff to help reduce delays in our court system; and
An additional $3.3 million annually for Ministry initiatives related to family dispute resolution services and increasing digital access to justice services.
“These are material increases in funding that will improve access to justice for many within the province, including those in Indigenous, rural and remote communities”, said Bill Veenstra, CBABC President.
“At the same time, the new legal aid funding is only about a quarter of what is needed to provide family law assistance to all qualifying individuals. All British Columbians, especially our most vulnerable, need effective access to legal advice and representation. With today’s budget, the government has made significant steps toward that goal, but a healthier investment is still necessary.”
Veenstra also expressed concern over the lack of movement on the tariff, or hourly rate, paid to legal aid service providers. “The current tariff has increased just once since 1991, and does not provide reasonable compensation for those assisting low-income people who qualify for legal aid. It is far behind the rate in comparable jurisdictions like Ontario, and the rate the government pays the outside lawyers it hires in child protection cases.” Veenstra pointed out. “As a result, we are seeing fewer and fewer lawyers willing and financially able to perform this important work.”
CBABC’s vision is better access to an improved justice system for British Columbians. “The BC justice system needs to provide practical assistance that helps people obtain fast, effective resolutions to everyday legal problems so they can move on with their lives,” Veenstra emphasized. “We look forward to working with Minister [David] Eby and other justice system stakeholders to continue to improve legal aid services and ensure access for those who are financially eligible.”
TUESDAY’S provincial budget reflects a social agenda with meaningful investments in both housing attainability and childcare – two areas of deep interest to the BC Chamber of Commerce network – but it leaves the business community to pick up a $1.92 billion tab on MSP by the fiscal year 2020.
The BC Chamber’s 2017-18 Collective Perspective survey flagged “affordability of housing” as the top issue “hurting” businesses in BC. Tuesday’s announcements intended to “stabilize [the] market and curb demand” with investments of more than $6 billion over 10 years are a welcome move that will help small business owners address another key challenge in BC’s tight labour market: recruiting and retaining staff.
“Less encouraging,” says Val Litwin, President and CEO of the BC Chamber, “is the news that businesses will be footing the bill to the tune of almost $2 billion by 2020-21 to cover the full phase-out of MSP premiums.” Added Litwin, “In fact, this new burden, shifted entirely onto the shoulders of business owners, flies in the face of an innovative economy – a phrase that featured prominently in every Ministers’ mandate letter in July, but very little in today’s speech. This new tax will have a negative effect on growth and investment.”
When taken in conjunction with the loss of revenue neutrality (and increase) of the Carbon Tax, and increases to minimum wage and the corporate tax rate, businesses of all sizes – from dry cleaners on main street to family logging companies in the interior – are facing the cumulative effect of crippling tax increases that will challenge their ability to invest and grow.
“Our members like to see balanced budgets,” said Litwin, “especially with capital investments in infrastructure, education, trade, and housing that support many businesses in the province through direct and indirect job creation,” said Litwin, “But this budget looks like it’s being balanced on the back of business through accumulating tax increases.”
“Our economy grows when businesses are supported, taxes remain competitive with global competitors such as the US, and businesses are optimistic about hiring and investing,” said Litwin. “Given this government’s emphasis on innovation and the ‘emerging economy’, we expected to see a more holistic plan put in place for the reduction of red tape that has always proven to spur growth and, for example, more incentives to drive innovation and early adoption of new technologies.”
Business Highlights from Budget 2018:
$15.8 billion for critical infrastructure including schools, post-secondary institutions, health facilities, affordable housing, student housing, and transportation
Over $1 billion to create a universal child care plan
$29 million over three years to support the expansion of the agricultural sector
Some of the revenue collected from the Carbon Tax will be focused on support for emissions intense industry to transition to a low-carbon economy
Rural Dividend funding committed through to 2021 at $25 million a year
B.C. Teachers’ Federation President Glen Hansman on Tuesday praised the new government’s focus on childcare and housing in the NDP’s first full budget, saying, “British Columbia needs to tackle the current affordability crisis in order to solve the ongoing teacher shortage in BC schools.”
“The new BC budget’s focus on housing and universal childcare will benefit many of BC’s public school teachers,” said Hansman. “BC has several thousand young teachers who were hired following our Supreme Court of Canada win. They and many others will benefit from the start of a new affordable childcare program. This budget’s overall focus on affordability will help recruit qualified teachers from other provinces to BC to help address our province’s ongoing teacher shortage.”
Hansman explained that taking real action on affordability is an important part of a robust teacher recruitment and retention strategy.
“It’s challenging to recruit teachers from Alberta or Ontario when starting salaries for BC teachers are significantly lower and the cost of living is higher,” said Hansman. “Investments in programs like childcare and fixing the real estate crisis will help BC be more attractive to out-of-province teachers. The BCTF will continue to work with the government on other recruitment strategies like housing and moving allowances, mentorship programs, as well as making teachers’ wages more competitive with other provinces.”
On the $212 million increase in operating funding for public schools Glen Hansman said, “BC’s 2018–19 budget also follows through on the new government’s commitment to keep increasing the province’s investment in public education. Since the BCTF’s Supreme Court of Canada win, there have been thousands of teachers restored to BC schools. The new funding increases for the coming school year will ensure school districts can hire even more specialists and better meet the needs of students. It’s also very encouraging to see new funding for Indigenous language revitalization and I look forward to more details about how schools will fit into that important reconciliation work.”
Hansman acknowledged that it will take time to undo the damage done after 16 years of cuts by the previous BC Liberal government, but praised the new government’s commitment to annual funding increases. Hansman stressed that the government needs to boost funding over the next two years to account for the upcoming bargaining round and reverse the trend of education spending declining as a share of BC’s GDP.
“There are still a lot of challenges in our schools right now that this new funding won’t solve outright, but it’s refreshing to see a government plan for ongoing funding increases,” said Hansman. “One of the biggest challenges remains making sure there are enough specialist teachers and education assistants to properly support children with special needs and ensure all our students get the one-on-one or small group time they need. Budget 2018 keeps BC moving in a better direction and the BCTF will continue our advocacy with the other education partner groups to enhance public education funding even more in the years to come.”
INVESTIGATORS from Peel Regional Police’s 21 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing 43-year-old male from the City of Brampton.
Ajmer Kaler was last seen at approximately 7:30 a.m., on Saturday, February 15 in the area of Tyler Avenue and The Gore Road in the City of Brampton.
He is described as a South Asian male with light complexion, brown eyes, 5’8 tall, 150 lbs, thin build, with black, straight hair above the ears and black facial hair.
Police and family are concerned for his well-being and safety.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Kaler is asked to call investigators at the 21 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at (905) 453–2121, ext. 2133. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting www.peelcrimestoppers.ca, or by sending a text message to CRIMES (274637) with the word “PEEL” and then your tip.
FINANCE Minister Carole James on Tuesday announced that Budget 2018 carves a new path to shared prosperity for everyone in the province with a made-in-B.C. child-care plan, a comprehensive housing plan and record levels of capital investment in every corner of the province.
“Budgets are not only about the bottom line, they should be about people. That’s why British Columbians are at the centre of every choice we have made in Budget 2018,” said James. “These include historic investments in child care and affordable housing that will be felt for generations.”
Over three years, an investment of more than $1 billion will set the province on the path to a universal child-care plan that will make child care affordable for parents and caregivers, create more than 22,000 child-care spaces throughout the province and ensure those spaces meet rigorous quality and safety standards.
Budget 2018 also lays out a comprehensive housing plan that introduces new taxation measures to tackle foreign and domestic speculation, to close loopholes and crack down on tax fraud, and to stabilize housing prices. It invests more than $1.6 billion over three years to build and maintain affordable rental housing, help finance student housing, increase rental assistance for low-income seniors and working families, and provide supportive housing for at-risk British Columbians.
“Budget 2018 balances the needs and priorities of British Columbians with the fiscal prudence that marks B.C. as an economic leader in Canada,” said James. “Our province needs bold action, and Budget 2018 delivers by investing in choices that make life more affordable, improving the services we all count on, and supporting a strong, sustainable economy for all British Columbians.”
JAMES said that building on the Province’s progress to date, Budget 2018 takes action to make life more affordable by:
Introducing a new affordable child-care benefit that will reduce child-care costs by up to $1,250 per month for every child and support 86,000 B.C. families per year by 2020-21.
Providing up to $350 per month directly to licenced child-care providers to reduce fees for an estimated 50,000 families per year by 2020-21.
Curbing speculation in B.C.’s housing market and helping to build 114,000 affordable rental, non-profit, co-op and owner-purchase housing units through partnerships.
Eliminating Medical Services Plan (MSP) premiums by Jan. 1, 2020, saving individuals up to $900 a year, and families up to $1,800 a year.
Making ferries more affordable by freezing fares on all major BC Ferries routes, reducing fares on non-major routes and fully restoring the Monday to Thursday seniors passenger fare discount.
Improving B.C.’s Fair PharmaCare program to eliminate deductibles for families with annual net incomes below $30,000, starting Jan. 1, 2019. Approximately 240,000 families will receive expanded coverage.
Reinstating free bus passes with the flexibility to support other transportation needs will help over 100,000 people receiving disability assistance to better connect them with their communities and the services they rely on.
Budget 2018 invests in priority services, including:
Significant investments in health care, with funding of $548 million over three years to improve care for seniors and $150 million to help connect those who do not have a family doctor with team-based primary care.
Hiring more teachers, bringing the total to over 3,700 new hires around the province to support students and meet the need for qualified teachers in B.C.
Making a historic investment of $50 million this fiscal year to support the revitalization and preservation of Indigenous languages in B.C.
Dedicating $18 million to services that provide outreach and counselling support for women and children affected by violence.
Improving access to justice through increased funding for legal aid, family law services, and the hiring of more sheriffs and court staff to help reduce court delays.
Budget 2018 invests in a strong, sustainable economy through its people by:
Supporting communities hit the hardest by the 2017 wildfire season and investing in wildfire preparedness to protect people, communities and wildlife.
Increasing funding for B.C.’s agrifood sector to support enhanced Buy BC, Grow BC and Feed BC initiatives to drive consumer demand and get B.C.’s goods to overseas markets.
Confirming the removal of fees for Adult Basic Education and English Language Learning to give people opportunities to grow and succeed.
Partnering with industry, the federal government and First Nations communities to support Indigenous skills training programs with $30 million over three years.
Increasing grants administered through the BC Arts Council and Creative BC, which support B.C.’s vibrant communities and creative economy.
Expanding B.C.’s tuition waiver program and increasing financial support for former youth in care while they attend post-secondary school or training programs.
Budget 2018 commitments are being funded by improved revenue forecasts over the fiscal plan period, as well as new revenue sources, including:
A speculation tax, and increases in the foreign buyers’ tax, to address housing affordability in B.C. by reducing foreign demand, and curbing speculation in the residential property market.
An employer health tax to allow for the full elimination of MSP premiums.
“For too long, British Columbians have not been able to get the services that they need or afford to live in the communities in which they work or grew up in,” James said. “We are taking bold action to change that with Budget 2018 – a budget that works for everyone in B.C.”
