Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 28, 2008

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

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.

For Immediate Release:

CROSS CAMPUS RALLY AND PRESS CONFERENCE TO STOP DEPORTATION OF YORK SCHOLAR

2pm
26 March 2008
Vari Hall, York University

Students from campuses across Toronto will descend on York University on Wednesday afternoon to protect one of their own. Sarah (Saintsierra Leonty), 20, a student of International Development Studies at York University faces imminent deportation to St. Lucia unless her application to stay on Humanitarian grounds is accepted.

"Our campuses should be open to all residents regardless of their immigration status. As a student union, we stand in opposition to Sarah's deportation and call on Citizenship and Immigration Canada to let her stay in Canada on a permanent basis" said Gilary Massa, VP Equity of the York Federation of Students.

Board Chair Declares: "Children are Not Illegal"

Toronto, May 24, 2006 - In a moving show of support, TDSB trustees stood tonight to ensure that all students have access to education without fear of detention, deportation, or disruption of their learning by federal immigration authorities.

In a unanimous decision, board trustees voted:

a) To accept in principle a Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy for all Toronto public schools within the TDSB. This means that Board staff will not inquire about the immigration status of students or their families, and that this information, if discovered, will not be passed on to federal immigration authorities.

b) This policy will be put in place after consultation with community members and city agencies; it will take effect for the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year.