Langley BC, May 24th 2011.
On March 18th, my son, Jose Ivan and I initiated a trip across Canada which main objective was to raise awareness about the immigration matter that is affecting our family since the IRB issued a deportation order based on allegations brought up by a CBSA officer who is of the opinion that my past membership with the FMLN makes me inadmissible into Canada. Now, after over 2 months of constant travel among cities, we are back in Langley and please to present a report to the community who made this trip possible.
We took the option to make this trip, when we learned that the Minister of Public Safety could take 7 to 9 years to decide on a ministerial relief application, we have been in legal LIMBO for over 13 years. There is not need to prolong the hardship upon the family. The trip started with a rally in Vancouver on March 18th; from there we headed east towards Ottawa, where we intended to deliver personally letters to the Ministers of Public Safety and Immigration. Those letters were not delivered due to the fact that Canada got into an Election process. Despite the letters were not delivered, we consider that the outcome result from the trip has surpassed our expectations.
During the length of the trip we were able to do many of the following:
1. Talk about details of the immigration case to Churches and organizations who are interested on immigration issues, as well as to individuals on streets, libraries, bus stops etc.
2. Made several media interviews in different cities across Canada, starting with Vancouver all the way to Montreal, Laval, Ottawa. Even though, Canada was in an election period, the immigration issue made it front page in a media in Ottawa which allowed us be able to reach to even more people.
3. More than 80% of the Salvadoran Community lives in the Ontario area, and being in contact with them during this time allowed us to have first hand information on their experiences with immigration and their current status.
4. Gathered contact information from people who can provide with some sort of help tending find a solution to the family’s ordeal.
5. At the start of the trip we were certain that the only venues left were the decisions that the Ministers have to make based on sections 34.2 and 25 of the IRPA; but now we are more certain that there is much more that can be done to overcome the inadmissibility. And have made contact with people who understand better the many issues of the immigration law.
6. Got a better understanding on how the immigration issues are seen by different sectors of the Canadian Society as well as the Salvadoran sector that have a say concerning the allegations presented on section 34.1 of the IRPA.
We travelled close to 15,000 Km going from Vancouver BC to Montreal QC and back and forth among cities, considering that this trip was initiated with no funding at all and it was fuelled only by faith and determination from a family who is standing so that their rights are upheld. We consider that the outcome of this trip has surpassed what we were expecting. This could only be achieved with the support from the Community all across Canada. We are would like to thank to the many people who never hesitated to provide us both my son and I not only with shelter and food, and means to move from place to place; but also with their attention and understanding while we explained the immigration issues that is affecting our family.
For 14 years my wife and I always looked in Canada as a place where we could find some peace. That thought was eclipsed by the allegations brought up by section 34.1 of the IRPA; the support that the Canadian society has provided during this trip has brought up some the hope for some light after the eclipse. We will be working on a more detailed report. Thanks again to all of you who one way or the other brought the hope back to our family.
“Our Lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter...”
Martin luther king Jr.
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