Demonstrations Win Stay of Deportation for Sarah Leonty - As the Fight for Don't Ask, Don't Tell at Post Secondary Heats Up!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

GTA CAMPUSES CELEBRATE STAY ON DEPORTATION OF YORK SCHOLAR! Students and Faculty Continue to Organise to Demand Status for All!

TORONTO- Shaken by the outrage of protestors who poured into York University's Vary Hall on Wednesday, Immigration Canada was forced to grant Sarah (Saint-Sierra) Leonty a 2 year stay in Canada while her Humanitarian and Compassionate Application is processed. Sarah's mother and two younger siblings slated for deportation yesterday, had their deportation cancelled and were also granted a 2 year stay.

The crowd consisted of students and faculty from York, U of T and Ryerson all demanding that Sarah be allowed to stay. Student and labour unions, along with faculty and community organisations took to the mic calling on York University to declare itself a sanctuary school to be free of Immigration Enforcement.

Amidst chants, echoing "Education, Not Deportation! Access Not Fear" and "Status for Sarah! Status for All!" University President Shoukri was pressured to issue a statement in support of this case.

Sarah bravely stated, "This is not just about my case. York University should take the lead in implementing a Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy so that all students can access education, regardless of their immigration status."

"It's a shame that undocumented students like Sarah, people who have lived, worked and participated in communities here can be treated as second class residents. Economically they are one of the most marginalized groups, yet post-secondary institutions demand they pay impossibly high international student fees," said Jen Hassum, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students- Ontario.

"As faculty, I'm inspired to see students organizing to reclaim the university as their space. York should be a safe place of learning and a sanctuary zone that is free of Immigration Enforcement" said David McNally, Chair of York's Political Science Department.

"Sarah's case is not an isolated one. Over 200,000 non-status people reside in the GTA, having fallen through the cracks of Canada's failing Immigration and Refugee Protection Act . While sustaining the economy by performing the most exploitative work, they live in constant fear of detention and deportation." shared Faria Kamal, a York student and organiser with the No One Is Illegal-Student Network.

On May 3rd, immigrants, refugees, trade unions, agencies and allies across Canada will take to the streets to demand Status for All! We will demand and end to detentions and deportations! We will demand access without fear to essential services! We will demand an end to security certificates and secret trials! We will demand a full and inclusive regularization program! We will demand justice, dignity and respect! Join us.

If you are interested in helping to build towards the upcoming May 3 National Day of Action, please contact No One Is Illegal-Toronto

toronto.nooneisillegal.org or email
nooneisillegal@riseup.net

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO ENDORSED AND MOBILIZED AROUND SARAH's CASE

Atkinson Students Association* Canadian Federation of Students* Campus Riot* Carranza Barristers & Solicitors * Centre for Women and Trans People- York * CUPE 3700* CUPE 3902* CUPE 3903 *CUPE 3903 -International Solidarity Working Group *Fair Trade Coalition at York University* Graduate Students Association- York *International Development Studies Students Association* Ontario Public Interest Research Group- York* OPIRG Toronto* Ryerson Arab Students Association* Ryerson Students Union* Ryerson Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights* Sikh Activist Network* Students Against Israeli Apartheid - York University *Student Christian Movement , York University Union* Sustainable Purchase Coalition - York University* The Peterborough Coalition for Palestine*Transgender, Bisexual, Lesbian and Gay Association at York University (TBLGAY)* Trent Graduate Students Union* United Black Students at Ryerson* United South Asians at York* Upping the Anti Journal* *Urban Alliance Against Racial Discrimination* York United Black Students Association* York Federation of Students* York Graduate Students Association* York University Faculty Association - Race Equity Caucus* York Sociology Graduate Association* Young Communist League at York University* York for Burma

FACULTY ENDORSERS INCLUDE:

Pablo Idahosa, York; Prof.
David Mcnally, York; Prof.
Luin Goldring, York Assistant Prof. Anna Agathangelou (Political Science, York)
Kari Dehli, Chair, Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, OISE/UT
Margrit Eichler, Professor, Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, OISE/UT
Michael Nijhawan (Department of Sociology, York)
Eve Haque (Department of Sociology, York)
Craig Fortier, (Contract Faculty, Department of Community & Liberal Studies) Sheridan College
Prof. Nick Garside (contract faculty, Environmental Studies, York)
Abigail Salole (contract faculty, Sociology, University of Toronto Mississauga)
Prof. Anna Willats (George Brown College)
Prof. Peter Nyers (Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, McMaster University)
Paul Olson, Professor, Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, OISE/UT
Peter Sawchuk, Professor, Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, OISE/UT
Sherene Razack, Professor, Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, OISE/UT
Kristine Pearson Sociology and Equity Studies in Education Graduate Studies Liason Officer, OISE/UT
Daniel Schugurensky, Professor, Adult Education and Counseling Psychology, OISE/UT
Roxana Ng, Professor, Adult Education and Counseling Psychology, OISE/UT
George Dei, Professor, Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, OISE/UT *Ananya Mukherjee-Reed, Professor, Political Science, York University
Roger Langen, Executive Officer, District 12 Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation
Ester Reiter - Associate Professor, Atkinson School of Social Sciences, York University
Ananya Mukherjee-Reed, Professor, Political Science, York University
Lee Lorch Mathematics & Statistics, York University
Cheryl Williams, Assistant to the Deparment Chair Sociology and Equity Studies in Education
Njoki Wane, Professor, Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, OISE/UT
Tanya Titchkosky, Professor, Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, OISE/UT