[IPSM] Urgent Action: Let Brandon and Fernando finish school! Stop the deportation of the Rodriguez family!

[nbetta at po-box.mcgill.ca]

-> Let Brandon and Fernando finish school!

-> Stop the deportation of the Rodriguez family!

-> Please phone and fax; demonstrate on April 11 at 7:30am in Montreal

The Solidarity Across Borders support work committee has been in 
contact with the Rodriguez family of Montreal: Jaime, 37, Arguela, 39, 
and their three children: Fernando, 15, Brandon, 8, and Steffani, 4.

The Rodriguez family, originally from Guatemala, came to Canada three 
years ago from the United States. Their refugee claim was refused and 
the family will be deported this coming TUESDAY, APRIL 11 at 8am.

The Rodriguez family is prepared to return to the United States, where 
they have lived before and have relatives. But, they have asked the 
Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) -- responsible for deportations 
and detentions -- to simply postpone their deportation date to the end 
of June, so that their school age children, Brandon and Fernando, can 
finish the term.

Brandon and Fernando's schoolteachers have even written their 
deportation agent requesting a postponement. According to Brandon's 
teacher, Ms. Courteau of the Adelard-Desrosiers school in 
Montreal-Nord: "Brandon is a very motivated, serious, mature and 
hardworking student who is determined to succeed. This little delay (in 
the deportation date) can make a great difference in the life of this 
child." Likewise, Fernando's teacher has asked the deportation agent to 
not ruin his school year.

The Rodriguez family marched during the "No One Is Illegal March on 
Ottawa" last June 2005. More recently, in January 2006, Jaime and 
Arguela travelled with Brandon and Steffani to Toronto to protest 
outside then Immigration Minister Joe Volpe's office to demand.

Photos of the family at the Toronto protest are available at:
http://gallery.cmaq.net/volpepicket/53353423_O
http://gallery.cmaq.net/volpepicket/53353412_O
http://gallery.cmaq.net/volpepicket/53353268_O

We are asking supporters of Solidarity Across Borders to do two things:

1) Please fax or telephone both the Canadian Border Services Agency and 
the Minister of Immigration Monte Solberg. Demand that the Rodriguez 
family be granted status immediately (which the Minister has the 
discretion to do) or, at the very least, that the family's deportation 
date is postponed until the end of June so that the children may finish 
school. Contact info and a sample letter are below.

2) If you live in the Montreal-area, we ask that you attend a 
demonstration outside the offices of the Canadian Border Services 
Agency and Immigration Canada (1010 St-Antoine West, near metro 
Bonaventure, St-Antoine exit) this TUESDAY, APRIL 11 at 7:30am (sharp). 
We will demand, at the last minute, that CBSA officials exercise their 
discretionary powers and postpone the deportation of the Rodriguez 
family so that the children may finish school. Please arrive at 7:30am, 
as the family will be reporting for their removal at 8am.

Please fax and/or phone the relevant officials, and please attend the 
solidarity demonstration next Tuesday. Stand in solidarity with the 
Rodriguez family.

STATUS FOR ALL! STOP THE DEPORTATIONS!

-- The Solidarity Across Borders Support Work Committee

::::::::::

--> Please write or phone BOTH the following officials at the Canadian 
Border Services Agency (CBSA) and ask that the Rodriguez family's 
deportation be postponed so that Brandon and Fernando may finish their 
school term (you can cite file #5150-4576).

CBSA Deportation Agent Alfred Pichard:
Telephone: 514-283-8236
Fax: 514-496-8814

CBSA Director of Enforcement and Removals René D'Aoust
Telephone: 514-496-1237
Fax: 514-496-1882

--> ALSO, please write or phone Immigration Minister Monte Solberg and 
ask that he exercise his power to grant status to the Rodriguez family 
(again, cite file # 5150-4576).

Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Telephone: (613) 992-4516
Fax: (613) 992-6181
E-Mail: Solberg.M at parl.gc.ca

::::::::::

Sample Letter:

[You can use the following letter as a sample for your letters to CBSA 
officials and the Immigration Minister. Please contact 
sansfrontieres at resist.ca if you sent a letter.]

Dear Mr. Solberg, Mr. D'Aoust and Mr. Pichard --

I am writing about the upcoming deportation of the Rodriguez family 
(file # 5150-4576) who are scheduled for removal this coming April 11, 
2006.

I feel that this deportation, of a family well-established in Montreal 
for three years, is inhumane. I ask that you use your discretionary 
power to grant this hard-working and humble family permanent status in 
Canada.

It is my understanding that the family will leave Canada when ordered. 
So, if you cannot grant status, I ask that, at the very least, you 
postpone the family's deportation date until the end of June, so that 
their two school age children, Brandon and Fernando, can finish their 
term. Their teachers have written letters asking for a postponement. 
Jaime Rodriguez's employer has also written you attesting to his 
current employment, which he can keep until the end of June and thereby 
avoid social assistance.

It makes absolutely no sense to ruin the school year of these children 
over a simple two-month delay. Please use your powers to postpone the 
deportation date, and also to grant the family status in Canada.

Sincerely,

::::::::::

--> REMINDER

Last-Minute Solidarity Demonstration with the Rodriguez Family
TUESDAY, APRIL 11 at 7:30am (sharp)
1010 St-Antoine West (between Peel at de la Cathederale; metro 
Bonaventure; St-Antoine exit)
In front of the offices of the Canadian Border Services Agency and 
Immigration Canada

Please arrive at 7:30am sharp.

STATUS FOR ALL! STOP THE DEPORTATIONS!
-----

INFO: sansfrontieres at resist.ca, 514-848-7583
http://www.solidarityacrossborders.org



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