International

Quebec migrant worker who helped on COVID-19 front line fears deportation

A migrant employee who stepped as much as work in a long-term care house hit onerous by COVID-19 throughout the first wave is looking on the federal government to forestall him from being kicked in another country.

There was a gathering throughout from the Canada Border Companies Company (CBSA) constructing in downtown Montreal Monday morning to demand justice for 41-year-old Mamadou Konaté, initially from Ivory Coast.

“What they’re doing to me just isn’t honest,” Konaté mentioned of his concern over being deported.

He mentioned he has labored a number of powerful jobs in Quebec since he arrived six years in the past, however maybe none was extra harrowing than cleansing rooms of COVID-infected sufferers at a long-term care house within the early days of the pandemic.

He caught the virus himself, he mentioned, and had a extreme wrestle.

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“I nearly died,” he recalled.

READ MORE: RisePEI advocacy group requires everlasting immigration standing for migrant employees

Amelia Orellana, a pal and former roommate, is a kind of demanding Konaté be allowed to remain in Canada.

“He answered the decision to assist throughout COVID. He was cleansing up on the crimson flooring throughout the first wave. He noticed folks die. He was one of many solely ones supporting the previous folks at the moment,” she informed World Information.

Orellana helped set up the downtown rally Monday, which coincided with Konaté being summoned to a gathering with CBSA officers wherein he feared he may be taught he’s being deported. NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice was amongst these readily available to supply help to Konaté’s bid to grow to be a Canadian resident.

Konaté says he’s been detained a number of instances and repeatedly known as to anxiety-inducing conferences with authorities officers, as he was on Monday morning.

On Monday he was requested to fill out extra types and paperwork as his residency request is processed, however the potential for deportation looms over him like a darkish cloud.

“In any case I do for this nation, now they wish to deport me. It’s not democratic,” he mentioned.

READ MORE: Few Quebec ‘guardian angels’ who labored in well being care throughout COVID-19 granted residency

Konaté’s lawyer Stewart Istvanffy was additionally on the gathering.

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“The hazard is actual and his life is in danger in his nation,” the lawyer mentioned.

Istvanffy defined {that a} part of the Immigration Act stating that anybody who participated in a authorities being overthrown can’t get residency, is proving to be a serious authorized impediment.

“Canada is popping away people who find themselves concerned in any form of armed wrestle, even in opposition to dictators like Saddam Hussein, actually horrible folks,” Istvanffy mentioned.

The lawyer says there are lots of, probably hundreds of instances the place this provision is being utilized unfairly.

“There’s very critical issues of inadmissibility, exaggerations of criminality overruling humanitarian impulses,” he mentioned.

Konaté has a authorized allow to work in Canada. He’s at the moment a janitor at Concordia College.

“I feel he deserve a standing, a dignity, respect and recognition about all the things he did, all the things he has labored for,” mentioned Orellana.

For now, Konaté’s buddies can solely wait.

They hope a brand new authorized problem helps forestall their pal from leaving the nation he’s given a lot to.

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