white settler photojournalist (scottish/english/irish descent) learning to help dismantle colonialism, racism & heteropatriarchy | living as a guest on lək̓ʷəŋən land | co-founding member of De Facto Journalism Co-operative
Mike Graeme
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Transit police are calling immigration on transit riders—and most of the time they aren't documenting it
Freedom-of-info docs indicate Transit Police calls to CBSA have risen. But in available 2024 data, 91% of calls didn't go into daily duty reports as required
www.defactomedia.ca/transit-poli...
Our newest investigation is up at @defacto-ca.bsky.social!
Continuing our launch theme on immigration enforcement, photojournalist @mikegraeme.bsky.social delved deep into Bill C-12 (now passed into law) — and how migrants and rights organizations are responding
www.defactomedia.ca/a-two-tier-s...
Zool Suleman is a long-time immigration lawyer & the executive director of BC non-profit MARU
He spoke to De Facto about what our newly reported data reveal about police collaboration, Vancouver’s “access without fear” movement, & immigration detentions.
www.defactomedia.ca/a-troubling-...
In 2024, Metro Vancouver transit cops’ immigration calls reached their highest in a decade. But not even a tenth of them went into daily duty reports as required
www.defactomedia.ca
With Bill C-12 now in force, volunteers build a mobile office for migrant workers amid escalating concerns over deportations and asylum restrictions
Everyday contact with police, such as transit fare-checks, is getting migrants reported to the feds. Why this expert finds De Facto’s newly revealed data ‘disturbing’
www.defactomedia.ca
David P Ball
Immigrants have become the scapegoat for economic precarity.
This misdirected blame “takes the spotlight away from the affordability crisis, from the way the economy is structured, and the way that corporations are channeling wealth away from services and people” —Syed Hussan
Read the full story:
Today is World Press Freedom Day.
True press freedom requires freedom of information.
But in recent years, governments have shrunk access to info the public deserves, and cuts to newsrooms have shrunk the time & resources that journalists need to rigorously report that info.
So impressed by this debut feature in @defacto-ca.bsky.social — two years in the making — by @godfrey.bsky.social and @emmaarkell.bsky.social on how VPD calls to border enforcement for immigration status checks have skyrocketed.
Vega Jiménez’s story is heart-wrenching.
@davidpball.bsky.social’s recount is especially poignant in the context of @defacto-ca.bsky.social’s recent investigation by @emmaarkell.bsky.social and @godfrey.bsky.social which exposes VPD’s soaring information sharing with CBSA.
It’s #WorldPressFreedomDay
My new journalism co-op @defacto-ca.bsky.social drops our 1st stories tomorrow
Tonight I need help with startup/branding/website costs—so we can just focus on reporting
Will you become our 50th paying subscriber & push us past $2,500?
www.defactomedia.ca#/portal/
De Facto Journalism Co-op
De Facto Journalism Co-op
Mike Graeme
Last weekend, migrant workers from across BC shared stories in a small Victoria living room
Stories of farms where they say supervisors pursue sexual favours
Where a work injury can get you blacklisted
Where bosses won't pay, & threaten deportation if you object
www.defactomedia.ca/a-two-tier-s...
“After 2 job losses in 1 year from publications that claimed to be in dire financial straits but doled out hefty salaries & bonuses to executives, I was looking for a place to do journalism sustainably, without the fear of having the rug pulled out at any minute” – De Facto co-founder Brishti Basu
De Facto Journalism Co-op
Mike Graeme
Mike Graeme
Last weekend, migrant workers from across BC shared stories in a small Victoria living room
Stories of farms where they say supervisors pursue sexual favours
Where a work injury can get you blacklisted
Where bosses won't pay, & threaten deportation if you object
www.defactomedia.ca/a-two-tier-s...
David P Ball
With Bill C-12 now in force, volunteers build a mobile office for migrant workers amid escalating concerns over deportations and asylum restrictions
Lucía Dominga Vega Jiménez was terrified of being sent back to her violent ex-boyfriend in Mexico.
So when Transit Police handed her over to Canada Border Services Agency over a $2.75 unpaid fare, and CBSA was about to deport her, she made a tragic decision.
www.defactomedia.ca/cbsa-custody...
De Facto Journalism Co-op
EXCLUSIVE: In 2023, Vancouver Police Department calls to border enforcement for immigration status checks increased 80% compared to 2022.
Even without a pandemic-related drop in 2020-22, the 476 calls in 2023 mark a 40% increase compared to 2014-19.
www.defactomedia.ca/vpd-immigrat...
