May 17

A mexican refugee and her Canadian daughter is detained the day before the Status for All March

Press Conference

Friday, May 17th, 9:30am

Immigration Canada 1010 Saint-Antoine Ouest, Montréal

 

With the friends of Ms Guzman and a representative of the Status for All Coaltion

 

Media Contact : 514-619-3648, 514-632-0072

 

The day before the annual status for all march for all migrants and for the end of detentions and deportations, six Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) agents violently entered the home of non-status Montrealer, Norma Guzman, arresting her and her daughter, aged 18 months. Ms Guzman and her Canadian born daughter are presently detained at the Laval detention centre and risk being deported to Mexico. Journalists are invited to attend a press conference tomorrow morning in front of Immigration Canada, 1010 Sainte-Antoine Ouest, in order to learn more about Ms Guzman’s situation. A representative will explain why the Status for All Coalition is demanding the regularization of all personnes without status, in addition to the end to the violent and brutal practices of detention and deportation of migrants. Within a context of increasingly aggressive immigration policies targeting migrants, the Status for All Coalition is calling on community organisations to join the Solidarity City campaign to make Montreal a “city without borders” – a secure and accessible city for all, no matter their immigration status. The Status for All march will be taking place this Saturday, May 18th at 1:00pm, departing from 4 locations (Côte-des-Neiges, Verdun, Hochelaga et Villeray) and will be converging at 4pm in Phillips Square.

 

:: CONTEXT ::

 

Norma Guzman

 

Last night, Norma Guzman and her Canadian born daughter Camille, 18 months, were arrested by six Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) agents. One of the agents entered through the kitchen window while the others screamed at Ms Guzman, who was terrified as she opened her door. The agents frisked Ms Guzman and threatened her in front of her daughter. Since arriving at the detention centre, Ms Guzman told her friends “they terrorized us. The way that they entered our home was aggressive and humiliating”.

 

Ms Guzman and Camille will be having their detention review hearing in front of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) in 48 hours. Ms Guzman has lived and worked in Montreal since 2008, after having fled persecution in Mexico and having looked for refuge in Canada. In 2011, her application for permanent residency through humanitarian and compassionate grounds was refused. Pregnant and afraid of the idea of returning to Mexico, she decided to stay in Canada in order to ensure a better life for her daughter. Norma has a strong degree to community support around her and Camille. She has been volunteering at her daughter’s daycare and she has always worked to support her and her daughter’s needs. Norma said to the agents who detained her: “you are chasing after me and arresting me as if I am a criminal”. But it’s not a crime to want to stay here so that I can protect myself from the dangers that await me in my country of origin”.

 

For more info: 514-619-3648 514-632-0072
mexicanxsunidxs@gmail.com

Source:

Coalition Un Statut pour Tou.te.s Mexicain.e.s Uni.e.s pour la Régularisation (MUR), Dignidad Migrante, Solidarity across Borders, Immigrant Workers Centre, No One Is Illegal, CDHAL

For more info on the Status for All March :
//www.solidarityacrossborders.org/en/may-18-status-for-all-demonstration

 

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