Call Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews today to demand that the family not be removed
The Chaudhry family recently received news that they will be removed from Canada in the coming weeks. This has been devastating news for the family of five, who are terrified of being returned to Pakistan, where they will face violence and possibly death because their marriage was not approved by their family.
CALL MINISTER VIC TOEWS TODAY TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY
Halifax supports refugee claimants and will not tolerate senseless deportations!
Parliament Hill Office: 613-992-3128
Manitoba Offices: 204-326-9889; 204-345-9762
The deportation will be extremely difficult for the family's three young children (aged 9, 3, and 6 months), two of whom are Canadian citizens and one of whom is an American citizen, and who all consider Canada their home. Forcing the family to go through a stressful, expensive and potentially dangerous deportation in order to apply for a way to return is a clear example of how Canada's immigration and refugee system needlessly hurts migrants.
The family has received outpourings of community support, including the support of two local Members of Parliament, business partners, students, the Muslim community, service providers and many others. They have a business plan to open a Halal food restaurant, and are likely to be able to return to Canada under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program after being out of the country. The Provincial Immigration office is so confident in the family that they have agreed to expedite their application return to Canada. The family has also applied to stay in Canada on Humanitarian & Compassionate grounds, given their integration in the community, but this application has not yet been processed and will not on its own stop a deportation.
Points to emphasize in your call:
-they currently have an application to stay on Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds. Deporting the family before this is processed may needlessly put the family through stress, danger and a financial burden. They should be allowed to stay at least until this application has been processed.
-they face violence or an honour killing if returned to Pakistan
-they have lived in Halifax since 2003 and have made a home for themselves here.
-they have a viable business plan to open a Pakistani food restaurant, with business partners
-they have taken courses to upgrade their skills, including computer and food safety courses
-they are active members of their community and volunteer with their local mosque
-their two youngest children were born in Canada. Their eldest child was born in the U.S.
-there has been a large amount of grassroots public support for the family.
For more information about the family, please visit: http://chaudhrysolidarity.
CALL MINISTER VIC TOEWS TODAY TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY
Parliament Hill Office: 613-992-3128
Manitoba Offices: 204-326-9889; 204-345-9762
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