CTV News Montreal

Updated: Sun Sep. 18 2011 6:17:09 PM

ctvmontreal.ca

MONTREAL — Paola Ortiz is fighting for the chance to remain in Canada.

On Monday she will find out whether she will be deported back to Mexico after five years in Canada.

Ortiz came to Canada and filed for refugee status, claiming that she had suffered spousal abuse. She said that she fears for her life if she's forced to return.

Additionally, her two-year-old child Kinnich apparently has autism and her four year old requires surgery for ear infections.

"My daughter told me she doesn't want the men to take me away, she can tell I am afraid," said Ortiz, in Spanish.

Her lawyer is fighting vigorously against her deportation.

"We're against violence against women," said Stewart Istvanffy.

"This is a country that has tried to make equality for women one of its principles. How can we treat these Mexican women this way and send them back to a place where there really is no protection?" he asked.

Comments are now closed for this story

Johnny
Oh! Boo Hoo! Her application for refugee status was denied over 4 years ago. She should of been deported back then. Her children are what is known as anchor babies. Canadian citizenship is given away too easily. She's a fraud! Send her back and her children at her expense!

Angel
The reason that this woman had 2 kids in Canada is becuse of the Us Immigration system that if your child is born on American soil, it is automatically American citizen so this woman , mistakenly thought the same rules apply for Canadian citizenship.
Is that a crime? No.
But it is a fraud to claim refuge status to cover up or to intend to cover the real truth.
As other have pinted out, in 5 years she had Plenty of time to leanr One of our two official languages; She has not.Nothing,Nada, zip,zilch.
Do I blame her for trying, nope.
However thisis to me a clear indication of this woman`s intentions were not honest, since she had two children, and she never bothered to assimilate, learn the language,,,, that is the revealing part. She known lack of honesty, a Firm Canadian Beleif. So, to me shes already proven that she isnt here to pay taxes but to profit from a system, oh and also from her children becuase if you know your first child has a serious disease,,,, you think twice before you have Another child, who may have other diseases,,,,, really,,,, another basket case profiting from our system, no more no less, Unfrotuantely, sounds like Vilanuevas, prifitng form thier son killing to get a 50,000 dollar funeral, to send dove in the sky at a hundred or more a pop,,,, give me a break! Abuse is abuse, this woman has lost ALL credibility , in my opinion. She is here to take advantage, who knows maybe she has cuased her children illnesses. Becuase autism is the new disease these days,it is used to con money out of the system, that is the reality of this story.

rmsbl4
I don't think I have read anywhere how she got to Canada in the first place. Did she fly here direct or by some neferious route. If she landed in the US she probably figured she would be better off trying for Canada.

firstMickey
Let her stay in Canada. I left a situation of spousal abuse. It is not a nice situation.

Mr John.
In my original comment...I meant the Dany V ....but I am sure all know who/what I meant.

Mr John.
Further to my earlier comment I want to add : After I watched all the TV interviews...WHY is it that this lady has been here for five years and cannot speak neither official languages of English and French??? Has she been working at all while she is lived here? If she is married in Mexico why did she give birth to two children here??
In all due respect,in the name of love;to have a BF/companion I understand but until she was secure as a Canadian and devorced
from the husband in Mexico there should have been no children to burden our system.I question the real motive here.......

LorraineH
While I feel for this woman and indeed any woman who is involved in a spousal abuse situation Canada cannot become their safety net.

She managed to get over the physchological effects of her abuse rather quickly, had 2 children while her status was not settled, and now expects Canada to let her remain.

I agree that there are many others perhaps more deserving of immediate deportation but that doesn't mean we have to allow all others to remain.

Bad Marriage or Spousal Abuse mustn't become a check box on a Canadian Refugee Acceptance Form. If this happens we will be overrun with women, truthfully or not, making this claim.

She may not be a 'criminal' but her working of our system is somewhat questionable.

ronnie from montreal
I agree with the both of you !! round up the ones who are trouble makers and send them back , as there the ones who are causing the trouble here in canada! leave this woman alone !! and go after every single person who should be sent back for good . the troubles makers!! the gangs etc... send them all back and let this woman stay !! your going after the WRONG -people ! DUH!

rmsbl4
Let's see she came to Canada FIVE years ago and filed for refugee status, claiming she had suffered spousal abuse, but she has two children 2 and 4, who's my daddy,must have been long pregnancies or in vitro, both need MEDICAL ATTENTION. Why wouldn't she want to stay in Canada for the medical bennies.
Her lawyer says we're against violence against women but the same thing happens in Canada.

Mary Jane
We know from this story she has 2 children. No where is it written she has not committed any crimes or any other extenuating factors. She has been here 5 years and has 2 kids under 5 ? Does she support herself and the kids ? The story is incomplete to pass judgment.

mimimin
Oh I know now why Quebec had caused a lot of problem for Canada. She was not the only one I think. Be mercy to kind people. A lot of baby boomers will face the trouble in their future.

CanMex
Her case may very well be real, but if not, this is specifically why visas have been implemented for Mexican travelers. People come as visitors,establish a life here and then when its time to leave, they claim refugee status. Not to mention having two children that need medical care, and a mother that hasn't learned to speak either official language in over 5 years. These cases occur all the time and people have the right to be suspicious that this woman and others are juicing the system.

That said, being a canadian woman living in Mexico, I can tell you there is no protection for women here. I love this country and there is much more good than bad which is why I'm here, but the stories you hear, the things you may see are heartbreaking and so opposed to our canadian equal rights we, as women, enjoy in canada.

Pat Dussault
Our country has absolutely no integrity if this woman is forced to leave. It makes me sick.

Dilys
Who is helping the women right here in Quebec who are being abused by a spouse? No funding for safe houses a lot of times.

Yes there are many more people who should be deported but they all have to learn there is a right way and a wrong way to get into Canada.

Tomorrow there will be some church giving her asylum and so it goes.

momof2
Seruiously! Canada has nothing better to do then to take this mother of two beautiful children away,she should be able to stay in canada and raise her children,why come after this woman when there are people killing people,frauding canada ect why don't canada go after them and give this woman a chance to live in canada with her children! My prayers go out to her.

irma1957
Is it so hard to keep non-criminal refugees and deport criminal refugees? Must be if we look at the number of criminals on that list a while back. Guess there are just too many people in Immigration and the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing.

Sandy
She came here 5 years ago because of spousal abuse ... yet her chilren are aged 4 and 2? Also she's here with her children who are no doubt getting all the help they need from medicare (autism and surgery for ear infections)? Who's paying for that???? We are.

As for letting her stay because she's not a criminal (not yet anyway). Let her get in line with everyone else waiting and also deserving to be here. I'm not saying she doesn't derserve to be here, just do as the others do too. Wait. Sorry!

Michel
Hey Immigration Canada! Looking for people to deport?? Round up all the gang members in this city i.e: Montreal North,and those who have committed crimes and send THEIR butts home. NOT a struggling single Mother who is in no way causing trouble. You have your priorities totally backwards! If you send this woman home for no good reason, it will be a travesty! Am mad as hell!! Idiots!

I say let her stay, she is not a criminal, she has broken no laws, but there are immigrants who have...and are still here, deport those people! Before the government deports anyone, they ought to deport every immigrant that has broken our laws FIRST!!!! That will make room for the good people.

ITS MY OPINION TOO
Vous vous acharnés sur une mère de famille qui a besoin d'aide vraiment,ses enfants ont besoin de soin , cette femme n'a commie aucun crime contre la société,et ne présente aucun danger pour la société de ce pays, et vous en profités en vous acharnant sur elle comme une bande de vautours.
Vous auriez intérèts a vous occupés des cas a haut risques au lieu de séparer une mère de ses enfants ,je trouve cette facon de faire vraiment de tres basse classe.
Vous avez en libre circulation plein de terroristes sur le terrictoir canadien, plein de criminels en circulation,et personne ne fait rien.
Comment se fait il qu'après 5 ans, y a un rond de cuir qui se réveille et prends le cas de cette femme en main , non pas pour lui aider , mais pour la démolir d'avantage,es ce que ca donne de l'avancement a quelqu'un de faire ce genre de chose ?
bonne réflexion

Wally from Montreal
First of all the children are Canadian citizens, and she has been here for 6 years. Question who is or are the father(s) of the children? Get married to him or(them). Or, make him or them pay for child support, also not to be mean, she could at least try to learn french or english. I would guess her lawyer has suggested this or inquired about it. Ahd finally, are the members of the latin American community in Montreal helping her? Hope she stays, God willing.

Brian
If she has to go, then all the rest of the criminals who have settled here from other countries should be deported too.

Lucy
Let her stay because as a Mexican she is "North American" as are USA and Canadian citizens. She already is one of us. Unlike boatloads of Tamils sneaking into Canada to use our system to gain freebies for themselves.

Matilda Peckers
She can gladly have my citzenship in exchange for hers. I would much rather be sunning myself on the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen than shoveling a frickin' driveway full of snow for 6 months of the year!

Diego
As I mexican I have to say that this kind of situation are mostly because of the false refugees in Canada, I met many of them who never worked or learn english/french, lots of them never really embraced the canadian values/culture, is really sad seeing that people who really need to stay are being deported. Canada is a wonderful country and many people, like myself are in the long waiting list to be back with our family back in Canada, anyways I wish this lady can make it through and stay and to make a new life and most important to EMBRACE and love what it could be her new country :)

Josh
I too am against all forms of violence, most certainly violence against women. But this is not a valid reason to claim refugee status in another country, if she truly fears for her life, move to a different state 'within your own country', The last time I checked Mexico was a pretty big place. Furthermore in this article it states 'Additionally, her two-year-old child Kinnich apparently has autism and her four year old requires surgery for ear infections.' which clearly indicates this woman is taking full advantage of this countries great health care system. Regardless of where her children were born, SHE is an illegal, DEPORT HER..If she is allowed to stay then this is a way to get around the loose rules concerning Canada's Immigration policy. Find away in, have a couple of babies, and they get a pass..This doesn’t sound fair to me.

Mr John.
And mean while we spend millions on the trash like the Freddy V amd his type and those leaches from Mom and Dad down will never offer anything to our society but trouble.....JE---,MARY AND JOESPH.!!!!

luis
5 years and still doesn't speak eng or french. Not willing to integrate, please enjoy the flight home along with gangbangers. My hard tax dollar should go toi serious ppl willing to chip in for this beautiful country.

Blake
I agree with madbill.

get rid of the scum who destroy and have no respect for their community nor the people working in them.

This lady is honest and hardworking and we, the people of CANADA needs immigrants such as her. Not the Dany Vileelkjgoiut (or however you spell his last name). I say it's a good trade off.

Madbadbill
Hey Immigration Canada! Looking for people to deport?? Round up all the gang members in this city i.e: Montreal North,and those who have committed crimes and send THEIR butts home. NOT a struggling single Mother who is in no way causing trouble. You have your priorities totally backwards! If you send this woman home for no good reason, it will be a travesty! Am mad as hell!! Idiots!

Badbill
I say let her stay, she is not a criminal, she has broken no laws, but there are immigrants who have...and are still here, deport those people! Before the government deports anyone, they ought to deport every immigrant that has broken our laws FIRST!!!! That will make room for the good people.