by
Solidarity
Across Borders
Montreal,
February 10 - The media are invited to attend the detention
review hearing for Alexander Mancia, a young Salvadoran asylum
seeker. Mr. Mancia has been detained at Rivière-des-Prairies prison
since August 2010. The hearing will begin at 1 pm on February 11.
Mr.
Mancia fled El Salvador in 2004, at the age of only 14, to escape
persecution from criminal groups who had attempted to forcibly
recruit him, going so far as to tattoo a symbol on his body marking
him as part of their group.
After living for several years in the
United States, where he was unable to gain status, Mr. Mancia tried
to present a refugee claim in Canada. He sought asylum on the basis
of the continual threats his family back in El Salvador face from the
criminal groups he fled, and the real risk of persecution he would
face if he returned to his country of origin.
Over the past two
years, Mr. Mancia has been in a relationship with a Montreal-born
Canadian citizen, who is the mother of an eight-year old son. The
couple are married since July 2010.
When:
Friday February 11, starting at 1 pm
Where:
Immigration and Refugee Board(IRB),
Complexe Guy-Favreau, 200 boul.
René-Lévesque West
Following
the advice of his lawyer, Mr. Mancia tried to present a refugee claim
at the border, in the company of his spouse. However, he was
immediately placed in detention, and declared "inadmissible"
under article 37(1) of the
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act- because his nationality and his tattoos were deemed to render
him a potential member of a criminal organization.
Mr.
Mancia has never had a criminal record, either in El Salvador, or in
the United States.
Although
he has not been accused of any crime, Alexander Mancia has been in
detention at Rivière-des-Prairies since August 2010. Despite the
repeated efforts of his family and his acceptance of strict bail
conditions, the IRB has so far refused to release him.
Mr.
Mancia is presently awaiting a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment, and could
face removal to El Salvador.
"Mr. Mancia has not been detained for what he's done, but rather
for who he is. Migrating is not a crime; we are thus demanding that
the authorities lift the inadmissibility against Mr. Mancia and
release him immediately. We also demand that Canada grant him
protection in the form of permanent residence, so that he can finally
live in security and dignity with his family," stated Solidarity
Across Borders, a Montreal-based migrant justice group.
"This is an untenable situation for the family of M. Mancia, who
are asking only to be reunited. The detention of Mr. Mancia is highly
worrying, and has attracted the attention of the public and various
support groups. This situation also echoes the experience of several
communities that have faced the discriminatory policies Immigration
Canada," added the group.
For
immediate release
