Escario gets 11th hour reprieve with temporary residence approval

Escario gets 11th hour reprieve with temporary residence approval

Escario’s cousin Andrea Lacson posted a video with Escario saying “TRP approved!” after receiving a phone call informing him of the decision.

Health worker with removal order

August 9, 2021

By Veronica Silva Cusi
The Philippine Reporter

Carlo Escario, a healthcare worker with a removal order for misrepresentation, has been given a new lease on life. Moments prior to boarding his plane bound for the Philippines on August 5, he was told that his application for temporary residency permit (TRP) has been approved.

It was like Groundhog Day for Escario. Last May, he was also at the airport to comply with his removal order. At the last minute, he was advised that he could stay on for his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Escario has admitted to leaving out crucial family details in his immigration applications to Canada. By not admitting that he has a wife and child in the Philippines, his permanent residency was revoked.

But kababayans in Canada have launched a campaign, dubbed #KeepCarloInCanada, that allowed him to stay on for his second dose. After this, his supporters continued with the campaign while he filed an application for TRP.
TRP is for those deemed inadmissible to travel or stay in Canada for a valid reason.

Monica de Vera, #KeepCarloInCanada campaign organizer.
(Photo supplied)

On social media, Escario is seen on August 5 at the airport smiling from ear to ear as he exclaims “TRP approved! I’m staying!” before jumping up and down with joy with family.

Escario then told The Philippine Reporter that he received a call from Liberal Member of Parliament Salma Zahid to inform him of the TRP approval.

“I feel like God gave me a new life and a new beginning to restart my life in Canada, and to fulfill my dream to be a successful migrant worker,” said Escario, in an email reply to TRP.

As of press time, August 8, Escario said he is still not aware of the conditions of the TRP. But the “next steps are getting work permit in order for me to go back to work as soon as possible, since I have been financially unstable the last three months. Also, I want to resume supporting my family back home.”

Escario’s lawyer, Amy Mayor, earlier told The Philippine Reporter that a TRP of more than six months would allow Escario to get a work permit.

The second part of Escario’s extensive campaign to stay on started on August 2 when he posted on social media that he was scheduled to be deported.

“I am scheduled to be deported on August 5 because of my misrepresentation case that I did not declare my wife and my child in my applications here in Canada. I’m asking for forgiveness, and I apologize for this mistake. I did not know the consequences for this is like taking away my future here in Canada,” he said in a Twitter post.

“I also emailed [Immigration} Minister [Macro] Mendicino, [Public Safety] Minister [Bill] Blair, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and MP [Jenny] Kwan to ask for help. I hope the Ministers will decide to let me stay and that Jagmeet and MP Kwan will continue to advocate for me. My application to defer my removal was rejected by the Minister,” his post continues.

Responding to Escario’s post, campaign organizer Monica de Vera on August 2 retweeted Escario’s video, saying “@marcomendicino rejected Carlo’s removal deferral and there’s been no word on his expedited TRP application. We won’t forget this when the fed election is called.”

“Don’t deport essential workers,” the campaign goes.

De Vera is joined by Karla Villanueva Danan as co-organizers of the campaign, along with Escario’s cousins Anna Ramirez and Andrea Lacson. They were also joined by various individuals and groups, such as Anakbayan Toronto, Migrante Canada, Magkaisa Centre, CUPE Ontario, CUPE Local 79, and more.

On the morning of his scheduled flight, family and friends posted and retweeted photos and videos of Escario at the airport as they continue their appeal to government leaders.

“I am overjoyed and relieved that Carlo’s TRP application was approved. However, I was disappointed that the Minister’s decision came at the last minute. It was a very undignified approach,” said De Vera in an email reply to TPR.

De Vera said she considers the campaign successful and “hope that people will see this campaign as a sign of hope and an example of grassroots people power. Carlo’s situation is very common and highlighted the racism, lack of compassion and exploitative dynamics that exist within Canada’s immigration policies.”

Escario has this message to his supporters: “To those that I don’t know personally who amplified my campaign, spread the word, made phone calls and emails to their elected officials, the Filipino and non-Filipino communities, and organizations that supported me, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. All of them have been there for me and believed in me and my story. Thank you, Lord, for the answered prayers.”