From death threats to limbo: A Colombian refugee's 12 years of waiting in Canada

From death threats to limbo: A Colombian refugee's 12 years of waiting in Canada

Human rights activist Luis Alberto Mata was granted asylum in 2003 but has waited for permanent residency for 12 years.

By: Nicholas Keung Immigration reporter, Published on Thu Apr 16 2015


For years, Luis Alberto Mata has helped hundreds of newcomers build a new life in Canada and integrate into the community.

Ironically, the Toronto immigrant settlement counsellor himself is not a permanent resident, let alone a Canadian citizen.

Although Mata and his family were granted asylum in Canada in 2003 owing to the danger they faced for his human rights activism in Colombia, he has remained merely a “protected person” in Canada because immigration officials still haven’t rendered a decision on his permanent residence application.

Canadian authorities would not reveal what caused the 12-year delay, but the family’s lawyer and supporters believe it’s a result of him being mislabeled as a “guerrilla sympathizer and collaborator” in propaganda by previous Colombian authorities.

More:
http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2015/04/16/from-death-threats-to-limbo-a-colombian-refugees-12-years-of-waiting-in-canada.html