Three girls arrested for attempting to stab mother

Three teenage sisters in Texas have been charged with trying to stab their mom to death for turning off the Wi-Fi.

The sisters, ages just 14, 15, and 16, were busted after chasing their 39-year-old mother from their Houston home late Sunday allegedly bashing her with a brick and then knocking over their grandmother when she tried to stop them, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

“The three siblings allegedly coordinated a plan to try and kill the mother,” Gonzalez wrote on X.

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“The mother was struck with a brick” and ” In the process, “the grandmother was knocked over while trying to protect” her, the sheriff said, without further identifying any of those involved.

Luckily, both adults escaped serious injury, he said.

All three sisters were arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and were booked into the Harris County Juvenile facility.

Three girls arrested for attempting to stab mother

Canada removes bonus ranking points for job offers in Express Entry system

Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that, effective March 25th, 2025, bonus Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for job offers will no longer be awarded to Express Entry candidates.

This change will affect both current candidates in the Express Entry pool and future applicants, impacting the path to permanent residence (PR) for many.

Immigration News Canada (INC) cites that the elimination of these bonus CRS points removes a key advantage for candidates with arranged employment.

Previously, candidates could earn up to 200 additional CRS points for senior management positions and 50 points for other skilled job offers.

These points often helped candidates rank higher in the pool and improve their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. As of March 25th, 2025, this benefit will no longer be available.

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Details of the policy update 

The policy change applies to both existing candidates and those planning to apply after March 25th. Before the change, candidates with a valid job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) could earn 200 points for senior management positions and 50 points for other skilled jobs.

• These bonus points were instrumental in propelling candidates to the top of the Express Entry pool, increasing their likelihood of receiving an ITA.

However, with the new policy, these additional points will no longer be awarded. IRCC described this change as a “temporary measure” in a press release dated December 23, 2024, but has not provided a timeline for when or if the bonus points will be reinstated.

• The Ministerial Instructions updated on March 25, 2025, keep the definition of a valid job offer but remove the section that awarded points for them. For candidates who depended on these points, the change takes effect immediately.

Meaning that the updated rules from March 25th, 2025, still explain what counts as a valid job offer, but they no longer give extra points for having one. Candidates who were relying on these points will notice the change right away.

What remains unchanged? 

Although the bonus points for job offers will be eliminated, job offers continue to be an important factor for eligibility in certain immigration programs:

• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): A valid job offer remains a requirement for eligibility.
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): Job offers can still help candidates meet minimum eligibility criteria.
• Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Some PNP streams continue to require or benefit from job offers.

However, these job offers will no longer provide additional CRS points, which had previously helped candidates improve their scores.

Reasons behind the change 

While the full reasoning behind IRCC’s decision to remove bonus points has not been clearly outlined, reports inform that some possible explanations have emerged.

One theory is that IRCC may be aiming to level the playing field by prioritizing candidates based on factors such as education, language skills, and work experience, rather than those with employer connections.

Another possibility is that the move is a response to concerns over the authenticity of job offers and Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), though IRCC has not explicitly tied this change to fraud prevention. Economic factors may also be a consideration, as Canada’s labor market evolves and certain industries experience fluctuations in demand for skilled workers.

Impact on candidates 

The removal of job offer points will directly affect current candidates in the Express Entry pool. Those who were depending on these bonus points for job offers may see a decrease in their CRS score, which could impact their chances of receiving an ITA in future draws. IRCC has advised applicants to allow several days for their CRS scores to update and to avoid contacting the agency unless discrepancies remain after a week.

For future applicants, the playing field has shifted. Without the bonus points, candidates will need to focus on maximizing other aspects of their profile, such as language proficiency, Canadian education, or work experience, to stay competitive in the pool.

Candidates who have already received an ITA or are in the process of applying for permanent residence will not be affected. Their points from job offers remain unchanged.

What candidates can do now 

Candidates seeking to improve their CRS scores can still take steps to strengthen their profiles:

• Enhance language scores: Higher language proficiency can add valuable points.

• Pursue additional education: New qualifications can increase the education score.

• Gain Canadian work experience: This can add up to 200 points.

• Consider Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): A provincial nomination can provide 600 points.

• Utilize a spouse’s profile: A partner’s qualifications can add up to 40 points.

As of March 25th, 2025, the immigration process has become more competitive, and candidates will need to adapt to the new system by focusing on other ways to improve their CRS scores. The full long-term effects of this policy change remain to be seen.

Canada removes bonus ranking points for job offers in Express Entry system

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US to Nigerians: Overstaying visa attracts permanent ban

The US government has issued a harsh warning to Nigerian travelers about the serious repercussions of overstaying their visas, underlining that violators may face lifelong bans from re-entering the nation.

The US Mission in Nigeria issued the warning on Monday via its X.

The immigration authorities stressed that consular officials have access to an individual’s entire immigration history, making it practically impossible to dodge sanctions for previous infractions.

They also stated that passengers are responsible for conforming to the restrictions of their visa and that ignorance of visa regulations will not be recognised as an explanation.

“If you overstay your US visa, you could face a permanent ban on travelling to the United States. Consular officers have full access to your immigration history and will know about past violations. There is no such thing as an ‘honest mistake’ – it is your responsibility to use your visa correctly,” the US Mission stated.

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It was gathered that those who overstay their visa for more than 180 days but less than a year may face a three-year re-entry ban. If the overstay exceeds one year, the penalty could be a 10-year ban.

Repeat offenders and those with major offences face a permanent lifetime ban.

Since Trump’s return as president, America’s immigration policies have been stricter.

On February 16, 2025, the federal government expressed great concern regarding the deportation of its people from the United States, requesting Washington to follow international treaties and ensure a dignified repatriation procedure.

During a meeting with the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, underlined the emotional and financial hardship that these deportations are putting on Nigerians in the US and their families at home.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated that “about 201 Nigerians are currently detained in US immigration centres, with around 85 cleared for deportation,” adding that the government was advocating for a more humane approach to the process.

“With the new US administration in place, we expect commitments to ensure that, if repatriation occurs, it will be done with dignity,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasised that many Nigerians in the US rely on remittances to support their families and education back home.

She also emphasised that deportations, particularly for those with no violent criminal history, should not be abrupt or traumatic.

“We are asking as a country whether they will be given ample time to handle their assets, or will they just be bundled into planes and repatriated?” She questioned.

US to Nigerians: Overstaying visa attracts permanent ban