The Global pandemic has created a significant backlog in the processing of critical immigration applications. Ismet Hajrizi is a Roma Muslim man seeking refugee in Canada. In Kosovo he faces many forms of discrimination that make his life unsafe. Its important to bring him back home to Canada, where he can be with his family again; they’ve already been apart for two years and four months due to lawyer negligence.

We’re hoping this petition brings the needed attention to the case, please read and send our letter of support to the ministers to show that Canadians stand behind the Hajrizi family.

The entire letter can be found below. The letter is as follows-

I would like to call to your attention a matter that needs to be addressed immediately. 

We are pleading that you expedite Ismet Hajrizi’s file for family sponsorship that's currently in process and to grant him permanent residence to protect the life of Ismet Hajrizi and guarantee his safety on Canadian soil. We kindly ask that you prioritize family reunification as the family has already been separated for two years and nine months. Ismet is a Roma Muslim man whose family is multifaith, multicultural, LGBTQ+. He comes from the largest minority groups in Europe, who have gone through centuries of slavery, systematic discrimination, persecution and mass executions. Kosovo has a long violent history and which still continues and prevents equal opportunity to housing, jobs and health care. Ismet faces clear and present danger, preventing him from living in a safe environment, as well as clear neglect of his human rights, which are violated regularly.

The global pandemic has created significant delays of processing applications which has made a big impact resulting in major backlogs. The minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship expects the Canadian government to clear the backlog by the end of the year but the timeline isn't guaranteed. The standard processing time for sponsorship is one year. Ismet’s sponsorship application is in process; that timeline does not include a rendered decision by immigration, refugees and citizenship Canada. The family's lives have been put on hold, this separation has already caused a substantial amount of harm to Ismet and his family.

 For two years and nine months the family has been separated and divided in two different countries. Every day has been challenging, but days like Father’s Day and Christmas are especially hard. In both Kosovo and Canada, the family’s separation has been felt. So much has transpired during this time, since the start of this pandemic, families have lost parents, children and the elderly due to the virus. Ismet’s family had that very same fear. The family that is in Canada are together but Ismet is isolated and alone. These dangers that Ismet faces are not only from this virus but also those specific to the Roma community which has been historically persecuted and discriminated against, as continues to this day. The family has already experienced significant trauma due to the separation. Since then, there is sadness at the dinner table. The family still sets a plate at the table hoping one day they will have a real family dinner that is filled with laughter and love.

As the adult children get older, they dread that their father may miss weddings, birth of grandchildren and more. Even at this point in their life they still need their father’s guidance and support, the family cannot imagine moving forward in their lives without his guidance and love.

Their father has grown old in Canada, but due to lawyer negligence he was deported as a failed refugee. He is a vulnerable person who deserved and deserves priority processing. The only family he has is them, here in Canada. Their parents deserve to enjoy their old age and remaining life together, not across oceans. Every human being deserves to have safety and security.

Both sons are citizen’s born on Canadian soil, they are able to travel internationally, they wish to visit him but as Roma people they face discrimination, persecution, and oppression in Kosovo. The family is a multifaith, multicultural, LGBTQ+ family and would face immediate danger if they were to go to Kosovo. Their father faces these dangers alone.

We hope that you will highly consider our plea, and offer Ismet to reunite with his family here in Canada. Here in support, the community will be sending emails to help this family.