Dozens of people gathered outside the Main Street Skytrain station on Sunday to mark one year since a Mexican woman killed herself while in the custody of the Canadian Border Services Agency.
Protesters are concerned about the actions of transit police in connection with the case of Lucia Vega Jimenez.
Many were seen holding signs saying, “Justice for Lucia” and “Transit is not a border checkpoint.”
Jimenez had been stopped for fare evasion at a downtown Vancouver SkyTrain station on Dec. 1, 2013. Suspicions were raised when the 42-year-old woman, who spoke with a noticeable accent, provided two different names to police.
She was taken into the custody of the Canadian Border Services Agency and later took her own life.
Demonstrators say hundreds of people were reported to the CBSA by transit police last year. They believe racial profiling is an issue among transit police officers.
In October, a coroner’s inquest jury made a number of recommendations in the case.
Among the recommendations to the CBSA is the creation of a dedicated Holding Centre for immigration detainees, which should be staffed by CBSA employees.
Detainees must also have access to legal counsel, medical services, NGO’s, spiritual and family visits, along with monitored Internet access. Telephones should also be readily available and should include local calls and international calling cards.
The jury would also like to see suicide prevention training be made mandatory for all CBSA and subcontracted security companies, along with mental health courses.
With files from the Canadian Press and Amy Judd
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