A VICTORY FOR LUCENE CHARLES AND HER FAMILY

Lucene Charles arriving at the federal building on Bay Street

With tears in her face, Lucene Charles the women who was facing deportation on Monday, February 20, was finally granted stayed in Canada after a decision made by the Federal Court.

Lucene and daughter Ajohke

Charles had to purchase two one-way, non-refundable plane tickets from Toronto to St. Vincent for her daughter Ajohke, 5 and herself. The single mother has three Canadian children sons ages 14, 13, and 11. She was reluctant to take them with her as she says; it will be a life of poverty.

Charles accompanied by her four children and her community supporters were in a Toronto federal courtroom on Thursday to ask for a stay of her deportation pending the outcome of a judicial review of her case.

Government immigration and border officials have said Charles was being deported because she entered the country without authorization.

However, in court, her Toronto lawyer, Jackie Swaisland argued that the hearing officer who rejected Charles’s last application erred by not taking into consideration that she’s got a job, is able to provide for her family and has become more involved in her community.

On Friday morning after Charles was leaving the Tropicanada Schwarma and Grill downtown Hamilton she received the best news she had ever received; she was not being deported until at least the leave to have her case reviewed is decided and, if granted, until the review itself is completed by the Federal Court.

Before that, Charles was at the Hamilton Legal Aid Clinic transferring legal guardianship of her three sons temporarily to a Hamilton couple from her church in case she had to follow through with deportation.

Hamilton Archdeacon Rick Jones and Lucene Charles

By 4 p.m., when she arrived at the federal building on Bay Street to get together with her supporters, everyone had already received the good news. She was welcomed with tears of happiness, cheers and hugs.

“From the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you to all of you,” said Charles in front of a crowd of about 200 people.

Hamilton Centre MP, David Christopherson was also at the rally and has been supporting Charles in every step of the way.  

Lucene and Hamilton Centre MP, David Christopherson

“When I went to that news conference on Monday I was able to tell them that I was there, representing every person in this community that wants this family to stay here.”

“Today’s decision should reminds us to never loose faith in our country, because our system did come true to the extend that Lucene is here with us now and her family is here with us and everyday that she is here is an absolute win for everyone,” said Christopherson.

For now, Lucene will get back to her normal routine. She will get back to work at St. Joseph’s Healthcare but most important she won’t have to worry about living her sons without a mother.

Watch what happened at the rally on Friday, February 17
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOEaS8swfaQ&feature=youtu.be