Mr. Ghahremani received notice on Wednesday May 30 that Immigration Canada will temporarily defer his deportation pending a review of his file and upon receipt of updated information on increased risk Mr. Ghahremani faces if he is deported to Iran.

Over the past few days, over one thousand people have signed petitions in support of Mr. Ghahremani and supporters had maintained a 24-hour camp-out outside Citizenship and Immigration offices for 72 hours. It is clear that the public support and outcry played a major factor in rendering this decision and highlights the importance for us to continue struggling against unjust deportations and detentions that perpetuate pain, anxiety, and violence in the lives of our community members.

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==> 24 HOUR CONTINUOUS CAMPOUT IN FRONT OF CIC OFFICES STARTS
==> RALLY AT CIC (300 WEST GEORGIA) SATURDAY MAY 26 FROM 2-4 PM

Supporters of Iraj Ghahremani have decided to maintain a 24-hour continuous presence and campout outside Citizenship and Immigration offices indefinetely to place pressure on the government to stop the unjust deportation of Mr. Ghahremani.

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Urgent Appeal to Support Iraj Ghahramani / Sample Letter Below

This is an appeal for your support in the campaign to stop the imminent deportation of Iraj Ghahremani, a 70 year old, much loved member of the Iranian Community in the Greater Vancouver Area. His deportation date is scheduled for the end of May 2007.  Mr. Ghahremani is a famous comedic Iranian entertainer and has contributed greatly to the diverse community in North Vancouver. As a helpful and supportive elder and member of his community, he is deeply respected and loved by many.

Mr. Ghahremani arrived in Canada on April 3, 1999 and filed a refugee claim on the basis of the risk and persecution he faced in Iran. His rejection was based mostly on minor inconsistencies in his account in his application form versus his account during the hearing- speaking no English and in a state of high stress and anxiety. Because the government has failed to implement the appeal process required by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (2002), Mr. Ghahremani’s fate has essentially rested in the hands of one person. As with so many other refugees, Mr. Ghahremani’s refusal is a reflection of the structurally flawed refugee system.

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REPORTBACK FROM OCCUPATION AND SHUTDOWN OF CIC AND CBSA

On Monday, April 23, a delegation of members and allies of No One Is Illegal-Vancouver occupied the Canadian Border Services Agency office to demand a meeting with Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley and her local representatives and to bring forward demands for migrant justice directly to those offices that quietly ruin the lives of individuals through detentions and deportations.

The letter that was presented, including to migrants coming to the offices all of whom were extremely supportive of the occupation and echoed the sentiment and chant “Stop the Deportations Now!”, can be found at the No One Is Illegal – Vancouver Blog.

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FOR EVERY MOMENT WITHOUT STATUS, FOR EVERY MINUTE IN DETENTION, FOR EVERY INHUMANE DEPORTATION: SHUT DOWN CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION CANADA!

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25TH 1:00 P.M.
GATHER: Front Entrance, C.I.C. – 300 West Georgia (corner Hamilton)

How many of us have seen our friends and families go through the fear and humiliation of detention hearings, reporting proceedings, and deportations at 300 West Georgia? Borne the pain of the separation of our families and communities? Witnessed the punishment and criminalization of our loved ones for having made the courageous decision to migrate?

On April 25th we will be rallying to shut down the offices of Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) in Vancouver – the institutions which daily take away the dignity and security of our communities through the detention and deportation regime.

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