Hey all, So I recently participated in a march led by No One Is Illegal in support of non-status immigrants and refugees in Canada. I have to say - we were a powerful group! We walked across one of Toronto's main streets for a good hour chanting about the rights of these populations to stay in Canada with FULL social services made accessible to them and their families. There were people from all ethnic communities, from all regions of the world, and people were chanting in english, french, spanish, portuguese, arabic - you name it. People came with their families, kids and seniors included, along with hundreds of students from the Toronto area who were supporting them. This was quite an intense experience for me, hearing from various families and their struggles to be given full citizenship in our country after being here for over a decade. How do you tell your child who has been born and raised in this country that you have been deported to another place - a place they don't identify as home? Deportation at what cost?

I know that until I educate myself further on immigration policy in Canada, I am not necessarily comfortable to hold a position on these issues - but I am now quite motivated to look into this. What are the barriers that these families are facing? Why are we inviting to refugees but refuse to treat them as equal citizenships? I can't imagine the instability that these non-status families go through on a daily basis... I realize now how I have taken for granted how easily (relatively anyway) my family was granted our citizenship here in Canada. This is something I should feel very grateful for, everyday, and support those that face great barriers than I ever did.

If anyway is well educated in Canada's immigration policy and such, please let me know where to start in educating myself in this matter.

Cheers,

Kimia