Laibar Singh, 48, a paralyzed refugee who is to be deported, has had his removal delayed by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), after over 1,000 protesters stood outside Vancouver airport on Monday morning. CBSA says the removal order has been postponed for safety and security reasons – it could not say if or when the order would be implemented. Singh was going to be deported on Monday, 10th December.
As the taxi carrying Singh approached the airport his supporters surrounded it, blocking traffic to and from the terminal. A good while later the taxi left the airport with Singh still in it. Singh was to be deported to India. He will be looked after by an advocacy group called “No One Is Illegal”, while he is in Vancouver.
Singh arrived to Canada four years ago with a false passport. In 2006 he suffered a major stroke which left him quadriplegic*.
* Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, when both arms and both legs are paralyzed.
Singh claims that deportation would mean death for him as he would not receive the necessary care in India to keep him alive. His application for refugee status was turned down last year. During his application he said he would be persecuted by Punjabi police as he is accused there of being associated with separatist militants. His appeal was also turned down.
Canadian authorities say that as he does not have any proper ties in the community in Canada his application cannot be approved. An “outrageous” claim according to “No One Is Illegal”, which says the community has shown tremendous support for Singh. The advocacy group says 40,000 people have signed a petition urging the Canadian government to allow him to stay in Canada on compassionate grounds.
In July this year he sought refuge at a Sikh temple in Abbotsford when he was scheduled to be deported. When he left the temple in August to get medical attention he was arrested – he was subsequently granted a 60-day stay.
— Canadian Border Services Agency
— No One Is Illegal
Written by – Christian Nordqvist