CP January 30, 2014

VANCOUVER — Many questions remain surrounding the death of a Mexican woman who had been held by Canada Border Services Agency at Vancouver’s airport, and the agency is revealing few answers. Lucia Vega Jimenez was taken into custody at Vancouver International Airport last month. BC Coroners Service confirmed Wednesday that the 42-year-old was rushed to the hospital Dec. 20 after she was found hanging in a shower stall at the airport’s immigration holding centre. Vega Jimenez was removed from life support a week later with her family present, Coroner Barb McLintock said in a written release. News of Vega Jimenez’s death surfaced in media reports this week, prompting civil liberties activists to question why CBSA did not disclose information about the death sooner.

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By: Debra Black Immigration Reporter, Published on Thu Jan 30 2014

Refugee advocates are calling for civilian oversight of the Canada Border Services Agency after a Mexican woman who had been working in a hotel died in hospital following her detention in the immigration holding centre at Vancouver airport. Lucia Vega Jimenez, 42, was found hanging in a shower stall and rushed to hospital on Dec. 20. She died a week later when she was removed from life support with her family present. Jimenez had been picked up in Vancouver on a transit fare violation and was handed over to the border agency for deportation. Her death was not made public until this week. It has triggered a firestorm of criticism over the lack of accountability of the border agency, with many advocates calling for the establishment of an independent civilian oversight mechanism.

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VANCOUVER — The Globe and Mail. Published Thursday, Jan. 30 2014, 10:07 PM EST

The death of a Mexican woman while in custody at Vancouver International Airport has sparked a dispute pitting the Canada Border Services Agency against advocacy groups who say the incident underscores the need for independent oversight of the agency and changes to its migrant detention policies. Lucia Dominga Vega Jimenez, 42, had been in custody for three weeks – first at Alouette Correctional Centre, then at the airport’s immigration holding centre – when she attempted to kill herself. She was taken to hospital on Dec. 20 and died eight days later. While it is not uncommon for immigrant holds to be lengthy, advocates note it is the responsibility of the CBSA to ensure the safety of detainees.

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By Kim Pemberton, Vancouver Sun January 30, 2014

Three more groups concerned about the rights of refugees and migrants joined the chorus Thursday demanding more public oversight of Canada Border Services Agency. The groups say the agency has ducked questions about the death of Lucia Vega Jimenez, a Mexican woman who hanged herself Dec. 20 in CBSA holding cells at Vancouver International Airport. She died in hospital eight days later. The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, the Canadian Council for Refugees and the BC Civil Liberties Association released a joint statement Thursday condemning the silence.

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By Paula Baker Global News

There are more questions than answers surfacing regarding the in-custody death of Mexican national Lucia Jimenez. While the Canada Border Services Agency is revealing few answers, Global News has learned more about the hours before Jimenez’s death from a family friend, who was by her side while she was on life support in the hospital. “She doesn’t have a voice, she’s helpless, she’s laying there and we can’t do anything for her,” Yasmin Trejo, a friend of the Jimenez family, said.

This is the reason Trejo is speaking out. She wants to give Jimenez a voice. Jimenez, a refugee claimant, attempted suicide while detained by CBSA at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on December 20, 2013. The 42-year-old was about to be deported back to Mexico when she hung herself in a shower stall at the CBSA detention centre at YVR. Eight days later she was taken off life support.

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