A young father in Montreal, aged 22, has received a last-minute reprieve from deportation following a Federal Court ruling that highlighted the potential harm to his family. Miguel, set for deportation to Mexico, was granted a three-month extension by a judge, allowing him to undergo a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) to prove the dangers he faces in his home country. The stay of deportation came just in time as Miguel was slated for removal ten days before becoming eligible for the PRRA on May 16.
The family’s attorney, Juliette Jan, expressed relief at the decision, emphasizing the opportunity for Miguel to pursue the PRRA process. Miguel’s story, covered by CBC News, revealed the urgency as his partner, Andrea, and their seven-month-old son faced separation due to deportation orders, with the baby undergoing medical evaluations for heart issues.
Concerns over cartel threats to Miguel in Mexico and Andrea’s fears of being tracked by past abusive partners in both Mexico and Quebec have led to withholding their last names. Miguel, employed as an apprentice carpenter, serves as the main financial and emotional support for Andrea and their child. Andrea awaits the outcome of her own PRRA application, while their baby was born in Canada, affording him citizenship.
Advocates at the Montreal Welcome Collective criticized the aggressive deportations by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in Quebec, attributing the trend to increased removal targets set by the federal agency in recent years. The rise in removals, especially in Quebec, has sparked concerns among legal experts and advocates nationwide, with family separation cases drawing particular scrutiny.
The Federal Court judge’s decision to halt Miguel’s deportation underscored the potential harm posed by his removal, considering the baby’s health condition, Andrea’s traumatic past, and the family’s reliance on Miguel as the primary breadwinner. The combination of escalating deportations and the recent immigration reform has triggered a wave of efforts to prevent family separations and protect vulnerable individuals caught in the immigration system.