Montreal, known for its vibrant mix of cultures and history of welcoming newcomers, is at the center of a critical battle for the Adegboye family from Nigeria facing deportation. Their journey highlights the challenges and the resilience required to fight for a place to call home amidst the threat of being torn away from the community they’ve come to embrace.
An Uphill Battle for Asylum
Upon arriving in Quebec in 2017, fleeing threats in Nigeria, Deborah Adegboye and her husband sought safety and a fresh start. They quickly found roles as personal support workers within the public health system, contributing to their new community. Despite their integration and contributions, their initial asylum application was rejected in 2020 due to skepticism about the dangers they faced back home. Unwilling to give up, they applied for permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, but were met with disappointment once again.
The Looming Threat of Deportation
The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) made the family’s fears tangible by purchasing their tickets back to Nigeria on March 3, 2024. A notice followed ten days later, marking the countdown to their potential departure. The distress this caused within the family is palpable. Deborah describes the heartache of facing her children’s questions about her tears, underscoring the emotional toll of their precarious situation.
A Dangerous Past and a Community’s Support
The threat they fled in Nigeria is linked to a religious cult, exacerbated by Deborah’s husband’s conversion to Christianity and refusal to take a leadership role within the cult. This defiance led to threats and an attempted kidnapping of their son, making their fear of returning all too real.
Amid this turmoil, the Montreal community has rallied around the Adegboye family. Demonstrations outside the office of Immigration Minister Marc Miller, with support from NDP Deputy Leader Alexandre Boulerice, highlight the family’s integration and the contributions they’ve made, notably in the public health sector as personal support workers.
A Plea for Compassion
The Adegboye family’s story is a stark reminder of the complex layers of asylum and immigration policies, and the human lives they affect. Deborah’s wish is simple: for her family to continue their lives in Montreal, contributing to and being part of the community. As the deadline for their deportation approaches, Montreal is faced with a choice—will it stand by a family that has already become part of its diverse tapestry, or will it let bureaucracy overshadow humanity?
Their struggle is a mirror reflecting the broader issues faced by many asylum-seekers and immigrants, highlighting the need for policies that recognize and protect the vulnerable. It’s a call to action for empathy, compassion, and a reevaluation of what it means to offer refuge.
