CANADA – Support regularisation of ALL undocumented migrants

Message from Global Women Against Deportations & Payday

Spain has just voted to regularise up to 500,000 undocumented migrants!

Will Canada be next?

Ever since the Canadian government promised a programme of regularisation for undocumented migrants in 2021, the movement of migrants and supporters has not stopped to press them to fulfil this promise.

A regularization programme is due to be put to the cabinet soon. A proposal for such a scheme, which is supported by over 500 civil society, environmental and labour organizations, can be read here. This could be a template for similar programmes in other countries.

Actions as part of a “Migrants Spring” have been happening around Canada to demand that the government keeps to its promise.

Migrants Rights Network comments:

“Migrants live here. We have deep roots. We grow and care for communities. But we are denied equality because we are denied permanent resident status.

A regularization program could lift many members of our communities out of poverty, give them the tools to protect themselves against abuse, ensure gender justice, unite families and correct a historic wrong.”

Undocumented women are particularly impacted by the lack of papers. Often the poorest, denied access to benefits and pay equity, women are also more vulnerable to rape and other violence and prevented from reporting it for fear of deportation. Yet, women are often at the forefront of struggles to get papers that their un/waged work for families and communities entitles them to.

The movement of undocumented people in Canada is asking for international support.

They say: “We are close to winning, we need you to join us. Tell the government to “Leave no one behind.”

Please send a message to the Canadian government now! A victory in Canada would benefit all undocumented people everywhere

Call from Migrants Rights Network:

Send your letters by email to Canadian Minister of Immigration Marc Miller, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Please copy your message to Solidarity Across Borders and Migrant Rights Network

marc.miller@parl.gc.ca; justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca;
info@migrantrights.ca; solidaritesansfrontieres@gmail.com

Dear Minister Miller and Prime Minister Trudeau. 

I am writing you from (name of organization, if any), (name of city, name of country) to ask you to move swiftly to introduce a programme that allows all undocumented migrants in Canada and their families, without caps or exclusions, to apply immediately for permanent resident status. 

A detailed proposal for such a programme, created by groups who have worked on these issues for decades, and supported by over 500 civil society, environmental and labour organizations, can be read here.

Lack of permanent resident status makes it difficult, or impossible, for migrants to speak up for their rights at work or to access services. They are separated from their families and live in daily fear of detention and deportation. 

Such a regularization program could lift many members of our communities out of poverty, give them the tools to protect themselves against abuse, ensure gender justice, unite families and correct a historic wrong.

Name

City, Country