We are thrilled to share that, due to your public support and pressure, a Calgary family’s nightmare has come to an end. After being exiled by the Canadian government for over a year, the Muth family – Derek, Emilie and Zoe – returned home on November 30.
What should have been a simple matter was turned into a traumatic odyssey for this young family. Ottawa had refused to allow entry to their legally adopted 2.5-year-old daughter Zoe, who faces complications from her Sickle Cell Anemia that have been life threatening. This crisis – which took a huge emotional and financial toll – resulted from an administrative failure by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to finalize Zoe’s Canadian citizenship in a timely manner.
On November 16, Zoe was finally granted her Canadian citizenship, opening the door to finally coming home. As the Muth family shared in a statement, it was the combination of media attention, the petition with over 38,000 signatures, and the letters people sent to officials, that saw their case reclassified as “High-Profile.”
Throughout this nightmare, the Muths have recognized that their ordeal is not an isolated case, but rather part of a systematic lack of care for far too many vulnerable people, as well as a failure by Ottawa to follow its own legal obligations to children and families.
“If this is the treatment of Canadian citizens, then I can't imagine what refugees go through,” Derek told CBC, adding that they saw first hand the “systemic prejudices and systemic injustices” faced by so many. In a statement released by the Muth family, they declared: “In the end, it was not the merit of our case, International Conventions or urgent medical needs that put our process in motion, but rather the public outcry. Who knows how long we would have been waiting without your support?”
If the Canadian government thinks this matter is now closed, they have another thing coming. Putting the Muths through this impossible nightmare has turned them into advocates who have pledged to work for the changes needed to reunify families and welcome newcomers.
The Muth family want the
38,300+ people who supported them to know:
“You reminded us that we are never alone, and words will never be able to
fully express our gratitude.” (See original petition at https://www.change.org/p/marco-mendicino-allow-baby-zoe-into-canada-with-her-calgary-parents-now)
It is so gratifying to celebrate such victories. But as we celebrate, we also remember that there are countless thousands of others in their shoes who deserve our support to ensure equally happy resolutions.
Thanks again. Your support has helped so many during this challenging year. We have much more work to do.
Stay tuned!
Matthew Behrens
Rural Refugee Rights Network
tasc@web.caDecember 2, 2020
++++++++++++++++++++++++
BELOW:
The Muth Family Statement
CBC Coverage
Message from the Muth Family:
It is likely that without public support, we would still be waiting on Canadian Immigration, and would continue to wait until the pandemic subsides. We could not have done this without you. Thank you to the 38,000+ people who read our story, signed and shared this petition, and sent e-mails advocating for this positive outcome. Watching the signature count rise not only urged the government to do the right thing, but also personally encouraged us during a dark season. You reminded us that we are never alone, and words will never be able to fully express our gratitude.
Petitions like this make a difference. The combination of articles in the media, this petition, and the letters to officials, reclassified our case as “High-Profile.” This designation was significant in bringing IRCC leadership attention to the Accra office. It meant that a staff member in the Minister’s office was brought into the details of our case, and it enabled them to hold the mission to account on our file. In response to the attention, a visa officer was flown to Accra ahead of schedule to look at our file. In the end, it was not the merit of our case, International Conventions or urgent medical needs that put our process in motion, but rather the public outcry. Who knows how long we would have been waiting without your support?
Unfortunately we know this will not be the last time an adopting family experiences injustice, so we will continue to advocate the best we are able until there is reform. We observed numerous systemic issues that need to be addressed and changed. Until change comes, the public will play an important role in reunifying families and welcoming new Canadians.
We want to publicly acknowledge a few key people, without whom we could not have done this:
Alicia Backman-Beharry – Lawyer, Holthe Immigration Law
Matthew Behrens – Advocate, Rural Refugee Rights Network
Sarah Rieger – CBC Journalist
WE’RE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS! THANK YOU!!!
CBC Article:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/muth-family-adoption-1.5821401
No comments:
Post a Comment