No legal rights for immigrant mothers fleeing abuse

By Megan Stewart

It’s an experience few Canadians can appreciate. But the task of raising a family as an undocumented, essentially illegal, immigrant mother is a challenge faced by some Vancouver women. Sarah, whose identity is protected because of her vulnerable legal status in Canada, fled a violent relationship and is raising three children who each have what she seeks: citizenship.

Born in Indiana, Sarah needs a letter of authentication from the YWCA transition house where she now lives so she can take home a bag of dry goods from the food bank. She otherwise has no Canadian identification. She cannot work or go to school and finds herself in legal limbo.

An ongoing YWCA project, Women Without Legal Status in Canada, is asking how the Ministry of Children and Families, as well as Canada Immigration, failed Sarah and other immigrant mothers like her.

This report by Megan Stewart:

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Posted by Megan Stewart on Apr 27 2009. Filed under Immigration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry