'This is not Donald Trump's America': Rally held after migrant mother detained near B.C. school
CTV
Dozens of people gathered outside a New Westminster elementary school Saturday morning to denounce the recent actions of Canada Border Services Agency officers.
Dozens of people gathered outside a New Westminster elementary school Saturday morning to denounce the recent actions of Canada Border Services Agency officers.
The rally was organized by Sanctuary Health, a grassroots organization that advocates for the rights of migrants.
Organizer Omar Chu said on Nov. 30, a mother dropping off her child for kindergarten at Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary School was followed by CBSA officers and detained a short distance away.
“It's extremely troubling,” said Chu. “Students are afraid that if they go to school, their parents might not be home when they get back.”
Chu said the parents are Mexican refugee claimants who have been living in Canada for a decade, and their daughter is Canadian.
They did not have their lawyer at a refugee hearing and did not understand the appeal process at the time, according to Chu, who said they have since applied for permanent residency on humanitarian grounds.
“(They) came here fleeing violence,” Chu said. “It is a failure of the system, in terms that every refugee claimant should have the right to representation at the refugee hearing.”
