Twelve groups and organizations throughout Canada including No One Is Illegal – Halifax/K’jipuktuk (NOII-Hfx) have issued an open letter in solidarity with an undocumented family in Waterloo, Ontario facing deportation to Guatemala. Ahead of tomorrow’s expected post-election cabinet shuffle, they call on the Trudeau government to let the family stay in Canada.
Early this week, Justin Trudeau was on the campaign trail in Atlantic Canada. On Tuesday, October 15th, he held a rally in Halifax, a key battleground riding for the party. There, No One Is Illegal-Halifax/K’jipuktuk (NOII-Hfx) organizer Stacey Gomez was blacklisted from participation in the event. NOII-Hfx, No one is Illegal-Toronto, Justicia for Migrant Workers and Solidarity Across Borders stand with Gomez and denounce this move by the Liberals, which they say reflects a racist agenda.
On Tuesday, October 15th, in lead up to Monday’s federal elections, Justin Trudeau spoke at Halifax’s Brewery Market. He was joined by Halifax MP Andy Fillmore. That evening, No One Is Illegal-Halifax/K’jipuktuk (NOII-Hfx) member Stacey Gomez was barred from participating in the event by the Liberal party. NOII-Hfx stands with Ms. Gomez and denounces this undemocratic move by the Liberals.
El Jones: “Remember that this is Indigenous land. And those rights were extended to settlers by Indigenous people as we see in the Peace and Friendship treaties. That is what should govern this territory. We live on these lands in this spirit of extending help and support to those who come here, as the Mi’kmaq did. It is status that is illegal, it is not people that are illegal.”
News release: On Thursday, October 3rd at 12pm Haligonians will participate in a multi-city Day of Action Against Canada’s Detention of Immigrants. Organizers and supporters of No One is Illegal – Halifax / K’jipuktuk will go to the campaign office of MP Andy Fillmore on Quinpool Rd to deliver a mailbox filled with letters from the public calling for an end to immigrant detention.
Already, we see racism and immigration emerging as key topics in this election and that includes discussions at the local level. At the September 12th “All Candidates Debate on Women’s Rights and Gender Equity” in Halifax, migrant justice was a key topic of discussion. Migrant justice organizer Stacey Gomez reports on where the four Halifax candidates stand.
For the last few years No One Is Illegal – Halifax/K’jipuktuk has mostly had a social media presence only. We talk with Stacey Gomez to find out how a group of migrant justice activists want to change that, and why that type of organizing for migrant justice is so crucial, especially now.
Abdilahi Elmi will be deported to Somalia any day now, putting his life at grave risk. A group of advocates held a press conference at Andy Fillmore’s office to raise awareness of this impending injustice and to ask for public support.
Press release: Solidarity Across Borders and No One Is Illegal – Halifax/K’jipuktuk are speaking out against an underhanded attack on refugees and migrants in the Liberal government’s omnibus budget bill (C-97), which passed on June 20.
On June 20th, World Refugee Day, the Liberal government passed their omnibus budget bill (C-97), which includes changes to Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act reflecting the Liberals’ “tough on immigration” position with respect to the Canada-US border.