by
Solidarity Across Borders
MONTREAL— On
Monday, the federal court ruled that Canadian immigration authorities
can proceed with deporting Paula Ortiz, a mom of two young Canadian
special needs kids, who sought asylum in Canada in 2006 after fleeing
her abusive former fiance, a federal police officer in Mexico. She is
obliged to show up at Trudeau airport at 7am on Tuesday to be flown back
to Mexico. Supporters of Paola will be at the airport to give support
and denounce her deportation.
A request for a judicial stay, or suspension, of Ms. Ortiz's removal
from Canada was submitted by her lawyer, and over a hundred of her
neighbours and community members, as well as 25 community organizations,
signed a public declaration also calling for Ms. Ortiz to be allowed to
stay with her young kids, aged 2 and 4, in Canada. However, federal
court judge Richard Boivin, a Harper appointee, denied the request for
the deportation to be suspended.
WHAT: Deportation of Paola Ortiz
WHEN: Tuesday September 20, 6:30 AM
WHERE: Trudeau Airport, Montréal ; international departures area
WHO: Paula Ortiz; Ortiz’s lawyer Stewart Istvanffy; and Solidarity Across Borders
Ms. Ortiz and her supporters highlight that in going forward with
her deportation, the Canadian government is breaking up a family, and
depriving two kids, who are both Canadian citizens in need of special
medical care that will be inaccessible in Mexico, of their mother. Her
4-year old daughter has hearing problems and her 2-year old son has
recently been diagnosed with autism. Both children require services
from medical specialists that will not be accessible to them in Mexico.
Ms. Ortiz and her supporters also underscore that Canada is
complicit in perpetrating violence against women in moving forward with
this deportation, abrogating its obligations under human rights treaties
and the law of refugee protection. Paola Ortiz arrived in Montreal in
2006, having fled a situation of sexual and conjugal violence in Mexico
on the part of her then-fiancé, also a federal police officer, and she
has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has denounced the impunity
granted to perpetrators of violence against women in Mexico. However, in
2007, the Immigrant and Refugee Board refused to grant refugee status
to Ms. Ortiz, under the reasoning that Mexico assures adequate
protection for women survivors of conjugal violence.
Despite complete non-cooperation from federal immigration
authorities, Paola has successfully obtained a Certification of
Selection by Quebec (CSQ). The deportation will reverse her efforts to
gain residence in Quebec and integrate into her community.
CONTACTS:
Media contacts at the airport:
Julie Marcoux and Sophie Schoen : 514-839-1657 or 514-998-7243 (before 8 am)
For interviews during the day:
Sarita Ahooja (Eng / Fr) : 514-295-5095
