MONTREAL – Global News has learned that a Mexican mother and her autistic son have been granted a temporary reprieve.
Global Montreal first brought you Gabriela Villa’s story in late February.
The Mexican woman, a single mother, was scheduled to be deported on March 20.
READ MORE: Mexican mother and autistic son contest deportation
Villa had requested a stay of deportation from the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA), while her file was being assessed. Villa applied for permanent residence in Canada based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
Villa’s 7-year-old son Nathan, who is Canadian, has autism and requires specialized care, that according to his mother, would not be available in Mexico.
In a phone interview, Villa announced that Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had intervened on her behalf, granting her a three-year temporary resident’s status as she awaits a decision on her file. That process could take up to 36 months.
And the good news keeps on getting better. The temporary status means Villa will be eligible to apply for a working permit, allowing her to earn an income.
“When I heard, I almost fainted,” said Villa. “I think I’m still in shock.”
WATCH BELOW: Gabriela Villa talks about why she is contesting her deportation to Mexico