We are saddened to share that our friend and neighbor Yusuf Madey Mohamed is at risk of facing deportation. Mr. Mohamed is a father of four and the main income earner for his household, he is a present and active father/husband who works hard to provide security for his family. He is also leader amongst the Somali and Muslim community in his neighborhood, regularly the first to volunteer to help and reach out when he hears of a community member in need. He volunteers at the local mosque and is known by his neighbors for his generosity and friendliness. 

His application to become a permanent resident was denied and his sponsorship from his wife was suspended. His wife and children are all Canadian citizens and this action will damage a happy and healthy family who are upstanding members of our community. Mr. Mohamed has had no criminal offenses and has many witnesses to his character ready to step forward. 

We are requesting his application for permanent residence be reopened for review. Mr. Mohamed and his family represent some of the best traits of our Canadian culture and it would be a major blow to a  growing family and our greater community if action is not taken.

We request that on compassionate and moral grounds the Government of Canada please halt any plans for deportation for Mr. Mohamed. Convention and protocol around international law relating to refugees stresses “ensuring that the unity of the refugee’s family is maintained particularly in cases where the head of the family has fulfilled the necessary conditions for admission to a particular country”.

We believe that Mr. Mohamed has met these obligations. Our own Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, under Article 28, demands a residency obligation of five years.  Mr. Mahomed arrived in Canada in 2013 and has been in Canada for ten years.  Given this length of time living in Canada, let alone the best interest of his children, he deserves the rights towards naturalization.  

Extending the time to review Mr. Mohamed’s application is the right thing to do. Thank you for taking the time to hear our concerns. We trust that the Government of Canada will support this family staying together.

Best Regards,