SUNDAY AUGUST 19TH RALLY. 2 PM AT CITIZENSHIP OFFICE IN SURREY. 13450 102nd Avenue Surrey (between 134th and 135th Street), 1 block from Surrey Central Skytrain Station

FLOOD THE IMMIGRATION MINISTER’S OFFICE WITH CALL/FAXES/EMAIL TODAY!!!

* CALL (PREFERABLE): (613) 996-4974 or (519) 426-3400
* FAX: (613) 996-9749
* EMAIL: minister@cic.gc.ca and Finley.D@parl.gc.ca

[Click here for reportback on Toronto delegation in support of Laibar Singh]

CROSS COUNTRY SUPPORT FOR LAIBAR SINGH

In Toronto: Delegation to Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Friday August 17 at 1pm – St. Clair Subway Station (at Yonge St.)
For more information call (416) 270-8947 or email nooneisillegal@riseup.net

In Ottawa: Rally and Delegation with Ottawa and Montreal allies
Friday August 17 at 2:00PM at Citizenship and Immigration Canada (Laurier @ Kent)
For more information call Contact (514) 909-9991 or email noii-montreal@resist.ca

UPDATE: Laibar Singh’s deportation in scheduled for Monday, August 20th. At his detention review on Wed August 15th, Laibar Singh was ordered to remain in custody pending his deportation, despite his fragile physical health. Over 400 supporters were in attendance to support Mr. Singh, one of the largest demonstrations of support for a deportee at the Vancouver Immigration Office.

Mr. Laibar Singh is a paralyzed Punjabi refugee claimant who has been in sanctuary since July 7 at Abbortsford Sahib Kalgidhar Darbar Gurudwara. While in sanctuary, Mr. Singh’s health deteriorated and had to be hospitalized. On Monday August 13, while in the hospital, Abbottsford police and Canadian Border Services Agency officers detained Mr. Laibar Singh. According to Mr. Swarn Singh Gill, President of the Abbortsford Sahib Kalgidhar Darbar Gurudwara, “We are really concerned about Mr. Singh. Mr. Singh was given sanctuary in order to protect his life and this past week it was in Mr. Singh’s best interests to go to the hospital and receive the medical attention that he needed. Even in the hospital, he was under the care and supervision of the Gurudwara, and therefore we believe still protected by the tradition of sanctuary.”

Mr. Singh came to Canada in 2003 and his refugee claim of persecution at the hands of state police has been rejected based mostly on minor inconsistencies. Mr. Singh suffered from an aneurysm in August 2006 that left him paralyzed and unable to feed himself. Mr. Singh spent four months at Vancouver General Hospital and had also been at the George Pearson Centre receiving 24-hour care since December 2006. Prior to suffering from his aneurysm, Mr. Singh worked as a labourer, doing one of the many low-wage jobs that rely on (im)migrant/refugee labour.

Human rights groups and community members are deeply concerned about the fate Mr. Singh, whose physical health is fragile. He has the support of a wide variety of organizations including: BC Coalition of People with Disabilities, Hospital Employees Union, Vancouver Status of Women, Association of Chinese Canadians for Equality and Solidarity Society, Multifaith Action Committee, Interfaith Institute at Simon Fraser University (SFU), South Asian Human Rights Group of Canada, Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib Society Surrey, Holy Satsang Foundation, Sri Guru Ravidass Society, Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar Surrey, B.C Akali Singh Sikh Society, Fraser Valley Hindu Temple, BC Hindu Mandir Burnaby, and others.

*** MYTHS AND REALITIES IN MR. SINGH’S CASE: KNOW THE FACTS BEFORE YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND!

* Mr. Laibar Singh was never handed down a deportation order prior to the one he received in July 2007. He has, therefore, never been “illegal” in Canada before taking sanctuary. Everyone in sanctuary has overstayed a deportation order, not just Singh.
* Mr. Laibar Singh arrived on a fake document, which he declared to Canadian immigration authorities. This is not illegal as international and Canadian refugee law recognizes the reality that many asylum seekers will be forced to travel on fake documents.
* Mr. Laibar Singh has not exhausted all his legal avenues. He has a pending Humanitarian and Compassionate review.
* Mr. Laibar Singh’s refusal as a refugee claimant must be understood in the context of a climate where an increasing number of sanctuary cases — currently at least 10 sanctuary cases across Canada — represent a growing movement of faith communities that are witnessing and responding to the structural flaws in the immigration and refugee system.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY TO PRESSURE IMMIGRATION MINISTER FINLAY!

At this point, we are calling on all supporters, friends, and allies to PRESSURE IMMIGRATION MINISTER DIANE FINLAY to stay Mr. Singh’s deportation and demand that he be accepted on his pending humanitarian and compassionate exemption.

======> SAMPLE LETTER <========

Minister Finley,

Regarding: Laibar Singh

I am writing regarding the situation of Mr. Laiber Singh. I am sure that you are aware of the case of Mr. Laiber Singh, who is currently in custody and is facing deportation on Monday August 20, 2007.

Mr. Laibar Singh is a paralyzed Punjabi refugee claimant who has been in sanctuary since July 7 2007 at Abbortsford Sahib Kalgidhar Darbar Gurudwara. Mr. Singh came to Canada in 2003 and his refugee claim of persecution at the hands of state police has been rejected based mostly on minor inconsistencies. Mr. Singh suffered from an aneurysm in August 2006 that left him paralyzed and unable to feed himself. Mr. Singh spent four months at Vancouver General Hospital and had also been at the George Pearson Centre receiving 24-hour care since December 2006.

While in sanctuary, Mr. Singh’s health deteriorated and had to be hospitalized. On Monday August 13, while in the hospital, Abbottsford police and Canadian Border Services Agency officers detained Mr. Laibar Singh.

I believe these actions to be a violation of sanctuary and am deeply concerned about the fate of Mr. Singh. It is outrageous that the Canadian government would deport a man who is already struggling to life a live of dignity and autonomy, and whose physical health is so fragile.

Mr. Singh has the support of many community members, South Asian organizations, human rights groups, and disability advocates. I join these voices in expressing my support for Mr. Laibar Singh. For the sake of his own safety, for the well-being of his physical health, and based on the life that Mr.Singh has already established, I fully support him and demand that you approve his application for permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds immediately.

Sincerely,

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