Mom to be deported in July: ‘Undocumented workers are not stealing jobs’

Mom to be deported in July: ‘Undocumented workers are not stealing jobs’

By Michelle Chermaine Ramos

LJI Reporter

The Philippine Reporter

Evangeline “Vangie” Cayanan said in her tearful statement in a video interview posted by the Alberta Labour Institute on YouTube on June 2, 2022, that she wants Canadians to know that undocumented workers are not stealing their jobs and are actually filling the gap for jobs most Canadians don’t want. “We work hard and we pay taxes and everything we pay. We’re not asking. We’re not getting it for free.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxyAph52MVs&t=5s)

We contacted Marco Luciano of Migrante Alberta who said that they have not heard back from Ministers Mendicino and Fraser since the campaign started on Monday. However, a meeting is being arranged with the office of the Hon. Randy Boissonnault and Hon. Blake Desjarlais expressed support and encouraged everyone to sign the petition. When the IRCC rejected Cayanan’s application on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, that put her 6-year-old daughter McKenna’s stability in limbo despite being a Canadian-born citizen because Cayanan cannot abandon her child here if she is deported.

“Vangie, like many undocumented migrants that came to Canada became undocumented for one reason or another. They did not purposely decide to become undocumented. We need to understand that we invited these migrants to come to Canada to work and fill the labour gaps. It’s the responsibility of the Canadian government to support them. They are not rags that after they were used and abused, they will be disposed of,” says Luciano.

The Philippine Reporter was able to speak with Minister Marco Mendicino on June 8, 2022, who said that he would not be able to comment on this individual case due to privacy concerns. However, he explained, “this would be considered by my colleague as well, the Minister for Immigration. We endeavor to ensure that there is fairness and transparency in these decisions. We know it’s been very difficult for many families. You know, when I was Minister of Immigration, we introduced many policies that helped to reunite families over the pandemic. We introduced policies to help accelerate more permits for caregivers. So I mean, in general, Canada has a very progressive, strong immigration system. At the same time, we protect our borders, and we protect the integrity of our system. But beyond that, it would not be appropriate to comment because the matter is under consideration.”