A Sikh family of three in Canada‘s British Columbia province is set to be deported back to India on June 13 unless the Ottawa government grants a stay or delay. Hardeep Singh Chahal, his pregnant wife Kamaldeep Kaur, and their three-year-old daughter have been living in Penticton, Canada, where they were given deportation orders last month for undisclosed reasons. The couple was granted 10-year visitor visas, later followed by work visas, by the Canadian government, and then they applied for refugee status. However, their claim and two subsequent appeals were denied due to the lack of proper documentation.
The family fears that they may not be able to return to Canada if they are deported. They consider Canada their home and the community in Penticton as family. They also worry that limited qualifications may make it difficult for them to secure jobs in India. In addition, education and healthcare are two major issues that make the couple want to stay in Canada. The couple stressed that they are not ready to leave and are frustrated by the government’s response, which has been these are the rules, these are the rules, according to Kamaldeep.
Before the government order, Hardeep was employed as an agricultural worker at Lake Breeze Winery, and Kamaldeep was working full time at the Penticton Wal-Mart. Employers and members of the community have come out in support of the family, with more than 100 emails of support sent to Okanagan MP Richard Cannings’ office. We are working very hard to get a stay on the deportation order and get this family permanent residency status, Cannings said.
The Canadian government’s move to deport hundreds of Indian students who had applied for permanent residency in Canada over fake admission letters has also been criticized. Meanwhile, the Sikh family is hoping that they will be able to stay in Canada, a place they consider home and where they have been contributing members of the community.
