Immigration Officials and Canada

protected person: Although Mata and his family were granted asylum in Canada in 2003 owing to the danger they faced for his human rights activism in Colombia, he has remained merely a protected person in Canada because immigration officials still haven’t rendered a decision on his permanent residence application, according to Toronto Star. Canadian authorities would not reveal what caused the 12-year delay, but the family lawyer and supporters believe it a result of him being mislabeled as a guerrilla sympathizer and collaborator in propaganda by previous Colombian authorities. Ironically, the Toronto immigrant settlement counsellor himself is not a permanent resident, let alone a Canadian citizen. On Friday, Mata supporters will launch a campaign at the Toronto United Mennonite Church to raise public awareness over the man predicament and urge Immigration Minister Chris Alexander to grant him permanent status. However, our officials can’t just go on a fishing mission. No one disagrees that we need the security checks against people who apply for permanent residency, said Gloria Nafziger of Amnesty International, one of many international and local advocacy groups vouching for Mata. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.