A family from Haiti has been granted entry into Canada after spending close to two months in an American immigration detention center following their rejection by Canadian border officials. The family’s attempt to reunite with a brother in Canada in mid-July was thwarted by Canadian border agents who suspected their documents were fake.
The group, consisting of two adults and three children aged two, eight, and 12, was transferred to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and placed in a family detention facility in Texas, where they were detained until recently. Heather Neufeld, the family’s attorney, highlighted the concerning trend of Canadian border agents making inaccurate judgments that are leading asylum seekers into the punitive U.S. immigration detention system.
Neufeld expressed that a single wrong decision could result in individuals being sent back to the U.S. for detention under harsh conditions and probable deportation. The family’s case was eventually reevaluated by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) with minimal document revisions, leading to their acceptance into the country. This occurrence reflects a potential increase in erroneous decisions by CBSA in its effort to remove an additional 4,000 individuals by 2027.
The family’s story was initially reported by CBC News while they were still detained in Texas. The mother, Paulna, aimed to reunite with her brother, Maxen, who has been residing in Canada as a citizen for 12 years. They had traveled to the U.S. under a humanitarian program that was terminated by former U.S. President Donald Trump in June, leaving numerous individuals, including the family, vulnerable to deportation risks.
Fearing deportation to Haiti by ICE, Paulna, her family, and her sister decided to seek asylum in Canada where Maxen resided. Having a relative in Canada allowed them to pursue asylum claims. Due to safety concerns, CBC News refrained from disclosing the family’s surnames to protect their immigration case and potential repercussions in Haiti if deported.
Upon Maxen’s arrival to collect his family members, only the elder sister was initially permitted to enter Canada and apply for asylum. Border agents had raised issues with Paulna’s paperwork due to discrepancies in her documents compared to her siblings. Maxen was informed that Paulna and her family were en route to ICE detention in Texas.
In the subsequent months, Maxen faced challenges in obtaining information about the family’s detention conditions. Details shared by the family indicated mistreatment, including physical abuse of Paulna’s husband by ICE guards and discomfort caused by excessive air conditioning. The children appeared unwell and disheveled upon their reunion with Maxen, prompting him to take them to the hairdresser the next day.
Expressing his love for his family, Maxen emphasized the importance of their well-being and shared the ordeal they endured during their time in detention.