Letter to Minister Fraser Re: Granting Immigration Status for Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal

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SENT VIA EMAIL @email 

Honourable Sean Fraser
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Confederation Building, Suite 733
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6

Dear Minister Fraser,

RE: REVERSING THE DEPORTATION AND GRANTING IMMIGRATION
STATUS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT, ABU HENA MOSTOFA KAMAL

We are writing to you today in urgent support and solidarity for Hena Mostofa Kamal, an international student from Bangladesh, residing in Thunder Bay and currently facing an unjust deportation order. Unifor is calling upon your government to intervene in this case, reverse his deportation order and grant him permanent residency in Canada. 

Since arriving in 2018, Abu has demonstrated his commitment to establishing a life here in Canada, by securing employment, starting his own business, volunteering in the Thunder Bay community, and by becoming a vocal activist in support of other international students. Now, due to factors outside of his control, including COVID19, skyrocketing tuition fees and immigration processing delays, he is being punished by being removed from the country.

We are concerned that there are many other students in similar situations like Abu all across the country. Newcomers are coming to Canada to study, work and contribute to their local communities, but are falling through the cracks of our immigration system that continues to bring people with precarious immigration status. These temporary students and workers are often subject to abuse and exploitation by employers, recruiters and landlords who look to take advantage of people who have few avenues to exercise their rights for fear of detention and deportation. Many students and families are falling into significant debt due to having to pay over three times the tuition rate of domestic students. Meanwhile, immigration backlogs are putting the lives of international students and migrant workers at risk, creating unnecessary stress, uncertainty and fear. 

We trust your government will do the right thing and demonstrate its commitment to human rights and justice by ensuring Abu has a fair chance for permanent residency in Canada. We also continue supporting calls for permanent residency upon arrival for all migrants so that we can end the cycle of precarity and insecurity faced by thousands of international students and migrant workers in Canada.

We thank you for your time and attention on this important matter. 

Sincerely,

Lana Payne
National President

LP/RD/bmkcope343

Cc:
Naureen Rizvi, Ontario Regional Director
Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety

Letter to Minister Fraser Re: Granting Immigration Status for Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal