Save Tony

I wanted to post this open letter from the Let Tony Stay campaign. Please note that the campaign has asked me not to reveal his last name to protect family members in Nigeria. His image has been blocked out to protect his identity from similar retaliation. Please read the open letter and find out how you can help

**

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wife fighting Canada to save husband from torture

Toronto, Ontario – May 25th, 2012 – Tony fled his small, African village just over 3 years ago because he was being hunted. The first night they came to his house under the cover of darkness, it became clear that their motives were malevolent.

The armed tribesmen abhor his family’s commitment to Christianity and they wanted Tony to pay with his life. He fled and was somehow located the second time, hiding over a thousand miles away. It was only then that he reached out for help.

A friend put him in touch with someone who could sneak him out of the country. Many people flee their countries for the safety of Canada, but few fear for their lives because of the practice of Catholicism.

Tony is running for his life and Citizenship and Immigration Canada has told him that he must return to Nigeria. He suffers from hellish nightmares about the torture he believes he will face should he have to return there. It is a terrible nightmare that could become a reality in a matter of days.

Tony is gainfully employed, well respected, has many friends, has his community’s support and now has roots here in Canada. He fell in love with and married his soulmate, Debra.

They share a lovely home with Debra’s 17 year old son, with whom Tony has formed a strong bond. In the past, Mother and son have struggled financially and with serious health issues. The family credits Tony with much of the sons’ rehabilitation from a 5 year health struggle. “Tony has provided me with a strong sense of stability and perspective on life,” the young man says.

Christianity is under attack in many African countries. In addition, kidnapping has become a viable way to make money. Tony fears this new method of extortion and worse if he is deported to Nigeria.

The struggle for Tony’s freedom is taking a toll on Debra, Tony’s wife. When the idea to sponsor Tony presented itself – it just made sense. Already deeply in love and worried that applications for refugee status don’t often survive the stringent scrutiny of volunteer members, she submitted to sponsor Tony as her husband. The couple began future plans to unite their children together in their Canadian home.

Described as a ‘loving couple’ by those who know them, they talk about having a child together. They conceived in early February but the weight of the immigration process has negatively impacted Debra’s health. Monthly reporting to the Immigration office and a surprise early morning visit at home by Immigration officials created an environment of anxiety.

Sadly, they lost their baby in April and mere days later were called in for a meeting with officials, who told them to begin preparing for deportation. Just a few days ago, they received a flight plan for Tony’s return deportation.

Debra, heartbroken, wonders why Canada would knowingly send her husband into harm’s way when, in only a few months there will be a ruling made on their spousal sponsorship application.

“It is cruel and it doesn’t make sense to me”, she says, “Why would Canada pay to send a good man to an unsafe country when he’s followed all of the rules?” A CBSA (Canadian Border Services Agency) representative told the couple that Tony is a good guy who got a bad deal and told them to look at it like a bump in the road.

He said, “You can start another spousal sponsorship application from outside of Canada – and be back in about a year,” to which Tony replied, “If I am alive, that is.”

Why is my Canada deporting good people who need safe refuge?

Why are tax dollars paying for deportation flights when claimants have only months to wait until their sponsorship applications are heard?

Why isn’t Canada standing up for people facing religious persecution?

–If CBSA Officer Basra #19550 agrees to stay my husband’s deportation until our Spousal Sponsorship, then…..my husband stays safe, my family stays healthy and we stay together.

There are a few ways to help Tony stay in Canada:

1. Sign my petition here that urges CBSA Officer J. Basra #19550 to stay the deportation order.

2. Send an email or phone some (or all) of the people in power listed below who might also urge CBSA Officer J. Basra #19550 to stay the deportation order. (Be sure to leave us a note or a copy of your email to [email protected] so we can tally all of the responses).

3. Go to my website to see our story

We thank you for your support and ask you to keep us in your prayers.

Mark Adler MP for York Centre (Deb & Tony’s MP)
638A Sheppard Ave. W. Suite 210
Toronto, ON M3H 2S1
Phone: (416) 638-3700
Fax: (416) 638-1407
E-mail: [email protected]

Monte Kwinter- MPP York Centre (Deb & Tony’s MPP)
539 Wilson Heights Boulevard
Toronto, ON M3H 2V7
Tel: 416-630-0080
Fax: 416-630-8828
Email: [email protected]

Hon. Jason Kenney- Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism
[email protected]
Tel: 613-992-2235

The Right Hon. Prime Minister Steven Harper
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900
E-mail: [email protected]

Update: Tony’s stay was denied on May 30, 2012

On the Let Tony Stay blog, “We’re very sad tonight. The Canada Border Services Agency told us that our plea to stay Tony’s removal from this country was denied. Things went wrong on so many levels I can’t even begin to explain. Our last ditch effort is to make a plea with a Federal Court Judge to allow Tony to stay – because it’s the right thing to do.

The petition has been updated to address Minister Vic Toews, Public Safety and Minister Jason Kenney, Citizenship and Immigration and ask for their help.

My family isn’t sleeping well and appetites are non-existent. Valid legal arguments have been ignored, dismissed and minimized. And each moment I work on this case is a moment less I have to spend with my beautiful husband.

Have mercy.”

 

 

Krystalline Kraus

krystalline kraus is an intrepid explorer and reporter from Toronto, Canada. A veteran activist and journalist for rabble.ca, she needs no aviator goggles, gas mask or red cape but proceeds fearlessly...