Montreal Family Facing Deportation from Canada
The Barlagne family immigrated from France to Canada in 2005 with dreams of starting their own business and a new life. Almost five years later, their computer software business is booming, the family’s two daughters are attending school and Mrs. Barlagne teaches new immigrants French at no charge to help them better amalgamate themselves into Canadian culture.
But the family has had to put all of this on hold, because their ability to continue living in the country they now call home all rests on an immigration hearing in February. If they lose, they must leave the country.
Their youngest daughter, Rachel, has cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a term that includes a spectrum of physical disorders with regards to the development of the human body and motor functions. It can cause issues with posture, limit activity, and can affect behavior or cause seizures. It is non-progressive and non-contagious. Rachel, 7, did not pass the medical exam that her family passed, and a government letter to the family states fears that she “risks giving rise to an excessive burden on social or health services”.
Rachel’s particular form of cerebral palsy does not need any special medical treatment other than rehabilitation and physical therapy because of her inability to speak or walk. David Barlagne, Rachel’s father, told Canwest News Service last week that her progress is terrific and she is now speaking a few words, and he would pay for the services himself.
Barlagne actually asked before applying for permanent residence if his daughter’s condition would be an issue, and was told that as long as his business was established for a few years, permanent residency would be doable. He says that a representative of the Canadian government told him it would be no problem.
Avoiding deportation from Canada may depend on knowing Canada’s immigration rules
Heartbreaking and stressful situations like these reiterate the heavy importance knowing medical inadmissibility provisions under immigration law and how they may apply to your application for Canadian permanent residence. Avoiding deportation from Canada may depend on it.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
