Her work permit expired the day it was issued, leaving this refugee claimant hopeless

A refugee claimant who fled from civil war in Ethiopia says she's exasperated after Canada's Immigration Department made a silly mistake on her work permit — leaving her still unable to work, study, or get adequate health care as she's waited more than 16 months for her refugee case to move forward.

Eden Zebene has lived in Ottawa since fleeing Ethiopia in February 2021. The 23-year-old is waiting for her case to be heard by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada — the final step before becoming a protected person and applying for permanent residency (PR).

"I was very depressed ...  because I don't have anything to do here. I always stay at home. I cannot study or I cannot [work]," she said.

"I want to change myself. My life."

After 16 months of pleading with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to move her case forward over phone, email, in person, and through her lawyer, Zebene had her eligibility interview in late July — a step claimants need to pass in order to get work and study permits.

Though still without a study permit, she finally got her work permit this month, giving her a glimmer of hope — only to find it expired the same day it was issued: Aug. 6, 2022.

"I feel very disappointed. I was very humiliated. I thought that no one cares for me in this country," said Zebene, getting emotional. She described experiencing severe mental health impacts as a result of IRCC's delays and the mistake in her case.

"I cried a lot."

CBC asked Canada's Immigration Department for comment Tuesday on Zebene's situation and has not received a response by deadline.

Zebene said her family was subject to brutal attacks in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, and said her family home and business were burned down. She was detained, beaten, insulted, threatened and sexually assaulted by Ethiopian security forces because of her Amharan ethnicity and her perceived political opinion in the past, her submission to IRCC reads. 

Regions in northern Ethiopia have been embroiled in conflict since the start of a civil war in November 2020 where all sides have been accused of atrocities. While no official government numbers exist, it's estimated that thousands of Amharas have been killed, and millions of people displaced.

"I was scared for my life," said Zebene. "If I return, I will be mistreated, detained, killed, tortured."

Now safe in Canada, she dreams of studying computer science at an Ottawa university and working part-time, but without valid permits and a social insurance number she's unable to.

She's also pregnant, and had a health scare a few months ago — but was only able to access basic care at a newcomer clinic under her interim federal health coverage, as she waits to be eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.