Pregnant Syrian Refugee Dima Siam is still trying to end the threat of deportation from Canada to Syria. She seeks the same permanent resident status already granted more than 25,000 other Syrian refugees. We are fearful that Dima's consideration of a hunger strike if she is not granted permanent resident status soon will have major consequences. In the hope that we can pressure the Liberal government – with its commitment to family reunification – to finally step up and fix an injustice left over from the Harper government, we are launching a May 20 to June 6 chain fast/ letter-writing campaign in support of Dima's simple demand: grant her immediate permanent resident status and allow Dima and her family (husband and three children, all Canadians in Ottawa) to lift the cloud of fear and anxiety that haunts their daily life. The latest news from the government is that Dima's pregnancy may delay consideration of her humanitarian and compassionate application an additional nine months (this after the family was forced to endure an additional year of waiting due to the government's failure to understand its own rules with respect to assessing risk to those facing deportation). Since January, 2013, the family has patiently endured the endless delays of immigration authorities and followed every requested step, only to be met with new obstacles in what should be an easy case to resolve. The Minister of Immigration can use his discretion to resolve the issue today if he chooses to do so, knowing full well that Dima has passed her security check and her original health exam. Whether or not you fast, please email the people referred to below and demand immediate Permanent Resident Status for Dima Siam. We must keep up the pressure and end this family's suffering. How a chain fast works Visit this doodle poll at http://doodle.com/poll/xv6ihmwp5huqv7vg, fill in your name, and check off the day you would like to fast. You will be added to a public statement with the date, your city and province (please email tasc@web.ca with the same information). On that day, fast as per your tradition (some people will fast 24 hours, some will fast from sunrise to sunset, some will drink fluids, some will not). On that day, we encourage you to write to the Immigration Minister John McCallum (john.mccallum@parl.gc.ca) and his Parliamentary Secretary, Arif Virani (Arif.Virani@parl.gc.ca) , and cc tasc@web.ca, with a simple message: immediately open Dima Siam's file and grant her Permanent Resident status. Continue sharing the petition, and thanks again for your solid support. Eventually, over 21,700 voices will be heard! Matthew Behrens Rural Refugee Rights Network