B.C. communities rally behind family facing deportation before Christmas
Posted November 27, 2022 10:17 am.
Last Updated November 27, 2022 10:21 am.
After fighting deportation for months, a family that’s been living in Canada for five years is being asked to leave by Dec. 19.
A 945-page request to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) asking that their removal be deferred until a decision is made was rejected. The family has been waiting for a decision for a year.
Leticia Bazan Porto and her family fled Mexico for Canada five years ago to escape death threats from organized crime.
Her two sons, Andres and Isaias, and her daughter-in-law Claudia, along with her nine-year-old granddaughter, are hoping to stay on humanitarian grounds.
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During their five years living in Canada, the family has been involved in their community.
Leticia volunteers at a number of centres, including the South Granville Seniors Centre, Carnegie Community Centre, Mission Possible, and Watari Counselling and Support Services Society’s food security program.
Her daughter-in-law, Claudia, works as a housekeeper in the COVID ward at Royal Columbian Hospital.
Amid their predicament, the Portos have earned the support of several groups, including Sanctuary Health, a grassroots community group that advocates for migrant justice.
Several communities in Vancouver have also thrown their support behind the family.
Sanctuary Health started a letter-writing campaign in support of the family and has received close to 1,000 letters so far.
These letters now hang inside St James’ Anglican Church in downtown Vancouver.
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Betty Valenzuela, Financial Secretary of the Hospital Employees’ Union, said in a release by Sanctuary Health: “At a time when our healthcare system is in critical need of experienced healthcare workers, we should not be turning away those who have contributed their skills and valuable experience to help protect Canadians.”
The family also has the support of the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU).
At a rally in August, HEU president Barb Nederpel said that it is important that Canada “retains every qualified and dedicated healthcare worker” to support its overworked sector.
With files from Shawn Ayers
