A family living in B.C. for five years will get to spend Christmas with friends and loved ones after the Federal Court ordered the government to stay their deportation.
Leticia Bazan Porto, her sons Andres Bazan, Isaias Bazan, her daughter-in-law Claudia Zamorano Gomez and her nine-year-old granddaughter faced deportation to Mexico on Dec. 19.
They fled the country from what they said were death threats from organized crime groups.
Despite messages of support from B.C.’s health minister, the Hospital Employees’ Union and more than 1,600 people, the Canada Border Services Agency had refused to defer their removal until their application to stay could be processed, the family said.
Now, Federal Court has ruled the deportation order stayed pending the final disposition of the family’s application to stay in Canada.
The family said they will continue their applications to obtain permanent residency.
Zamorano has been working as a health worker at Royal Columbian Hospital for two years, Leticia has been volunteering in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and Isaias and Andres have been working as carpenters.
In a statement through Sanctuary Health, the family said they are so grateful to everyone for their continued support.
The family, along with Sanctuary Health, will be taking part in the Committee for Caregivers and Domestic Workers Rights’ rally for Status for All on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 9:30 a.m. at 700 Hamilton Street in Vancouver (outside the Canada Border Services Agency’s office).