Immigration’s only fun when it’s not your own.
That’s what Sabir Mohammed Sheikh and his wife are finding out now. The couple, from Pakistan originally and now living in Montreal, Canada, is being deported to the US–through which they originally gained entry into Canada claiming refugee status. That status has since been revoked, on the grounds that on their application for the said status, they had lied as to exactly how long they were living in Dubai, India. They declared 3 years on their application, but in reality had been living there for 20.
That’s hardly the kicker here, though. While the couple themselves are being ordered to leave the country, their 4 children, only one of whom was actually born here, are being allowed to stay. With the children being between the ages of 5 and 21–with the 5-year-old being the only one having been born in Canada–it raises serious questions as to exactly what the immigration department in Canada actually calls its priorities. On the one hand, they should be commended for sticking to the letter of the law when it comes to immigration and refugee status, but on the other, what are they thinking? Clearly, the oldest of their children is not what most people would consider old enough to be taking care of his 3 younger siblings full-time. Nor are they old enough to really do a whole lot of taking care of themselves. Which means they’ll most likely be relying on community members and family friends, or on social services, to take care of them until such time as they reach 18 years old. Of course, those that are 18 already are pretty much on their own, ready or not. I guess so much for the conservative preaching of family values. This family values staying together–and Canada’s government says no.
