New Westminster family fights deportation to Mexico
A New Westminster school community is rallying around a family fighting deportation to Mexico.
Adriana Rosales Contreras and Alberto Vargas Mendez came to B.C. 13 years ago after he was assaulted for refusing to join a criminal organization, said Omar Chu, spokesman for Sanctuary Health, an advocacy group that supports migrants.
The couple applied for refugee status, but they were denied, he said. “There was no lawyer at their hearing, and they didn't speak English very well. They didn't know how to appeal.”
Since then, Contreras and Mendez have lived in B.C. as undocumented migrants. Five years ago, they had a daughter.
Last summer, the couple connected with a lawyer and filed an immigration application, seeking to remain in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. But on Nov. 30, Contreras was arrested by Canada Border Services agents outside Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary after dropping off her daughter at school, said Chu.
The mother was taken to Downtown Vancouver, where she contacted her husband. When he came in, she was released, but he was detained for 48 hours, said Chu. “Since then, they've been complying with CBSA, but as far as we know, removal proceedings are continuing.”
CBSA spokesperson Judith Gadbois-st-cyr would not comment on the case for privacy reasons, but said the agency has a legal obligation to remove people who are inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration Act.
“The decision to remove someone from Canada is not taken lightly,” she said in a statement, adding CBSA “only actions a removal order once all legal avenues of recourse have been exhausted.” Humanitarian and compassionate grounds applications “do not stay the removal of an individual until an application is submitted and an (Immigration Canada) officer grants Stage 1 approval.”
Chu said Contreras and Mendez are waiting to hear the results of their immigration application, which was filed in August but wasn't reviewed until November, by which time some of the forms had expired. They have resubmitted their application.
Friends and members of the New Westminster school community are planning a rally in support of the family on Monday at 5 p.m. outside Tweedsmuir Elementary. Many have already sent letters to the federal immigration minister asking him to approve the family's application before they are deported.
School trustee Maya Russell said it was disturbing to her that Contreras was “tracked” as she dropped off her daughter for school. “It is absolutely distressing and goes against the sense of safety that we try to foster.”