MIGRANT DIGNITY, NOT MIGRANT DEATHS!

(en español abajo)

Yesterday we confirmed the news of Lucia Vega Jimenez’s death while under Canadian Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) custody. Migrant communities and activists are still reeling from the news of this tragic and shameful death and we send our prayers, rage and condolences to her family members and loved ones.

WHAT CAN I DO?

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/1415165535395741/

1) If you have one minute, please sign and share this petition:
https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/steven-blaney-order-a-full-transparent-and-independent-civilian-inquiry-and-investigation-into-lucia-s-death#

and this image on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=500023813448000

2) If you have five more minutes, please call these numbers directly to pressure for an independent investigation and an end to cruel and punitive conditions of migrant detention.

Lisa Lapointe, Chief Coroner: 604 660-7745
Barb McLintock, BC Coroners Service: 250-356-9253
Steven Blaney, Public Safety Minister: 613-944-4875 or 613-992-7434
Roslyn MacVicar, Pacific Regional Director CBSA: 604-666-0760
John Dyck, Metro Vancouver District Director CBSA: 604-775-6790

3) If you have a few hours to come honour the life of Lucia Vega Jimenez and to demand justice, come out on Friday January 31, 2014 at 5:30 pm in front of CBSA offices at 300 West Georgia for a vigil and community gathering by community members, No One Is Illegal, and Latin American Committee for Refugees and Migrant Justice.

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1415165535395741/

BACKGROUND:

Lucia was a 42-year old Mexican migrant who worked in Vancouver, Canada as a hotel worker. She was arrested by Transit police for an unpaid bus ticket and then transferred to immigration authorities, who detained and incarcerated her at a provincial prison pending deportation. From there she was transferred to the detention holding cells at the Vancouver International Airport on December 19, 2013, and on December 20, 2013 she was rushed to the hospital.

On December 28, 2013 Lucia died at Mount St. Joseph’s Hospital, while still under CBSA custody.

Three people, including Reverend Eduardo Quintero, confirmed that Lucia’s death was a suicide. Lucia hung herself in detention with a shower curtain during the early morning hours of December 20, 2013. Reverend Quintero, of Vancouver’s Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, administered her last rites at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital.

Lucia’s death was kept secret by CBSA and pubic officials for over a month. Lucia’s sister Maria was forced to sign a non-disclosure secrecy agreement with authorities when she arrived from Mexico to Vancouver to arrange the release of her sister’s remains.

Despite the attempted cover up for over a month, community members and migrant justice advocates such as Karla Lottini started hearing stories of a Mexican woman’s death in a detention center. Karla herself fled Mexico after receiving death threats for being a whistle-blower journalist and recently won refugee status in Canada after a prolonged legal battle.

Lucia had also previously made a refugee claim in Canada. According to Karla, “I want to know Lucia’s story. I can imagine the despair she must have felt facing a deportation order. We all need to know what happened to her while she was in the custody of Canadian Border Services Agency. This is not the first death or suicide of a migrant in detention or while facing deportation.”

Richmond RCMP, another law enforcement agency, was tasked with investigating this incident and have already completed their investigation. They found ‘no criminal cause’. Police-on-police investigations are completely inappropriate and incomplete. CBSA must be held accountable for this, and any other, tragic and shameful death resulting from exclusionary and violent policies of detention and deportation.

Last year there were over 9,000 migrants detained, including 289 children. We say: not one more death, not one more detention, not one more deportation.

* For more background information and news links, read here:
https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/steven-blaney-order-a-full-transparent-and-independent-civilian-inquiry-and-investigation-into-lucia-s-death#

Mexican woman who died after CBSA arrest hung herself rather than be deported:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Mexican+woman+died+after+CBSA+arrest+hung+herself+rather+than+deported/9442230/story.html#ixzz2rnHZ2rcX

Activists demand answers after death of woman detained at airport
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/coroner-to-investigate-death-of-woman-who-was-detained-at-yvr/article16541906/

Priest alleges Mexican victim’s family signed confidentiality agreement
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/2014/01/28/priest-alleges-mexican-victims-family-signed-confidentiality-agreement

Activists want to know why woman’s death in CBSA custody wasn’t made public for nearly a month
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Activists+want+know+woman+death+CBSA+custody+wasn+made+public+nearly+month/9441253/story.html

Mexican woman dies in Canada Border Services custody
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/2014/01/27/mexican-woman-dies-in-border-services-custody

DEMANDS:

TO: Minister of Public Safety Steven Blaney, Canadian Border Services Agency, and BC Coroners Service

1) We urge you to immediately order a full, transparent and independent civilian inquiry and investigation into the tragic and shameful death of Lucia Vega Jimenez while under CBSA custody.

2) We need independent civilian oversight and a comprehensive review of migrant detention policies.

3) Cruel and punitive conditions of migrant detention, such as indefinite detention, as well as new regulations under the Refugee Exclusion Act that permit mandatory detention and a two-tier refugee system, must end.

—————–

ayer confirmamos la noticia de que Lucia Vega Jimenez ha muerto mientras estaba detenida por Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA). Las comunidades de inmigrantes y activistas todavia estan impresionados por la noticia de esta muerte tragica y enviamos nuestras oraciones, rabia y condolencias ha su familia.

Que puedes hacer?

1) si tienes un minuto por favor firma y comparte esta peticion:
https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/steven-blaney-order-a-full-transparent-and-independent-civilian-inquiry-and-investigation-into-lucia-s-death#

2) si tienes cinco minutos mas, llama a estos numeros directamente para pedir una investigacion indepediente y para pedir el fin de las condiciones crueles de detencion

Lisa Lapointe, Chief Coroner: 604 660-7745
Barb McLintock, BC Coroners Service: 250-356-9253
Steven Blaney, Public Safety Minister: 613-944-4875 or 613-992-7434
Roslyn MacVicar, Pacific Regional Director CBSA: 604-666-0760
John Dyck, Metro Vancouver District Director CBSA: 604-775-6790

3) si tienes unas cuantas hora ven a recordar la vida de Lucia Vega Jimenez el viernes 31 de enero del 2014 a las 5:30pm el frente de las oficinas de CBSA en 300 West Georgia en una vigilia organizada por No One is Illegal y Latin American Committee for Refugees and Migrant Justice.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/1415165535395741/

Lucia fue una inmigrante mejicana de 42 anos quien estuvo detenida y encarcelada en una prision mientras esperaba su deportacion. Ella fue trasladada a las celdas de detencion en el aeropuerto internacional de vancouver el 19 de Diciembre del 2013 y el 20 de diciembre fue trasladada al hospital. El 28 de Diciembre del 2013 Lucia murio en el hospital Mount Saint Joseph todavia en custodia de CBSA.

Tres fuentes, incluyendo al Reverendo Eduardo Quintero quien administro su extramauncion, han confirmado que la muerte de Lucia fue un suicidio. La muerte de Lucia fue guardada en secreto por mas de un mes. La hermana de Lucia, Maria fue forzada a firmar un acuerdo con las autoridades de que no iria a compartir esta informacion.

El RCMP de Richmond, otro cuerpo policial, fue responsable de conducir una investigacion, la investigacion ya ha concluido. Ellos no han encontrado ninguna “causa criminal”. Las investigaciones de un cuerpo policial sobre otro son inadecuadas e incompletas. CBSA debe de dar cuenta de sus actos y tomar responsabilidad por esta y cualquier otra muerte que haya sido el resultado de estas violentas detenciones y deportaciones.

El ano pasado mas de 9000 migrantes fueron detenidos, incluyendo 289 ninos. no mas muertes, no mas detenciones, no mas deportaciones.

Para mas informacion:
https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/steven-blaney-order-a-full-transparent-and-independent-civilian-inquiry-and-investigation-into-lucia-s-death#

DEMANDAS:

A: Minister of Public Safety Steven Blaney, Canadian Border Services Agency, and BC Coroners Service

1) Le pedimos que ordene inmediatamente una investigacion conducida por un cuerpo civil de la muerte tragica y humillante de Lucia Vega Jimenza mientraas estaba bajo la custodia de CBSA.

2) Necesitamos una revision comprensiva al igual que supervision independient y civil sobre el sistema de detencion.

4) las condiciones crueles y punitivas de las detenciones de migrantes, como las detenciones indefinidas, las nuevars regulaciones en el Refugee Exclusion Act que permiten la detencion obligatoria y un systema de dos niveles para los refugiados, deben de terminar.