Montreal protesters call on Canadian government to stop deportations to Haiti

MONTREAL – A Haitian asylum seeker who fled violence at home says he is worried about being fired, especially since the situation in his country is deteriorating due to civil unrest.

Claude, who does not want to give his real name Retaliation, he said that he came to Canada after criminals searched his home and threatened his wife and children

"They m & # They charged ransoms, came to my house, and looted my house. " did not violate my wife and children, my daughter. "

Now, the 44-year-old father said that he was afraid of being sent back to Haiti, where he believes his belongings will be gone and he will not be able to

Placards made at the hand-some stuck to hockey sticks-chanted "No one is illegal!" at two-hour demonstrations outside the Citizenship and Immigration Canada office in Montreal

called on Canada to restore a moratorium He said that federal officials should not deport people to Haiti at the same time as they warn Canadians to avoid all nonessential trips to the Caribbean nation because of evictions in Haiti that have taken place place between 2004 and 2014.

Political unrest and the risk of violence

"If this is not a safe place for Canadians, why should it be a safe place for Haitians who have fled the country? "said Mr. Andre [19659006] travel advisory earlier this month, warning against all non-essential travel to Haiti, citing "high crime rates in various parts of the country and ongoing political and social tensions".

Citizenship and Immigration Canada did not respond immediately comment Saturday

Claude says his problems started when he returned to Haiti after spending his holidays in Canada, when he and his family became a target for criminals because of their perceived wealth.

He found a return ticket to Canada and landed in December 2017.

Since then, he has found sporadic work in a temporary help agency while he is waiting for a date for a hearing on his application for asylum.

an original date for June has been canceled, and he has not yet received a new one

Meanwhile, he has seen friends being deported, fueling his fears he suffers the same fate.

Refugee Council data show that between February 2017 and March 2018, 68% of requests processed by Haitian asylum seekers were rejected, while only 9% were approved.

But the table warns that the figures represent only a small percentage of total claims Claude says that he still hopes that people will show understanding towards Haitians, which he claims to have suffered for years due to poverty, natural disasters and political instability

"I hope that they allow us to come here to find peace and tranquility , live a respectable and acceptable life, "he said.