Family living in Montreal fights deportation to Mexico
A family that has been living in Montreal for four years has learned it will be deported to Mexico on Jan. 19 despite efforts to stay.
Marisol Mendez said she's terrified of returning to Mexico after settling in Montreal.
"We are a good family," she said, sobbing. "We try to have a good family to give a good example."
She said her husband, Fernando Reyes, has been kidnapped by Mexico's federal police three times. Mendez alleged her son, who was 11-years-old at the time, was also kidnapped the last time her husband was taken by authorities.
Mendez said she fears it could happen again.
The family's lawyer, Idorenyin Amana, has applied for a deferral to allow the family's two children, aged 16 and 17, to finish the school year.
"The officer we met today is a removal officer. She has one job: remove. The decisions on the file have been made by other people from the refugee division to the federal court," he said.
The family has asked Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to review the decision made by immigration authorities.
Immigration officials denied the family's request for refugee status last May. The family's attempt to appeal the decision was struck down last August.
The family held a press conference on Dec. 17 to tell people about their situation. Amir Khadir, a member of the National Assembly for Québec Solidaire, requested that Quebec's immigration minister intervene in the case.
In a press release, Mexicans United for Regularization (MUR) said the family is "suffering from the effect of recent changes to the immigration system, brought in by Bill C-31."
Bill C-31 was passed by Canada's Conservative government in June. It aims to fill gaps in Canada's workforce.
