STORY about SolidarityMigration posted on February 27, 2011 by bsichel

Chaudhry Family Wins Reprieve from Deportation

Application to stay in Canada will be reviewed again

by Ben Sichel →Migration

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HALIFAX - Roouf Ahmad and Fakhira Chaudhry have won the right to have their family's application to stay in Canada re-reviewed, according to reports on the Chaudhry family solidarity website.

Last week the family appeared in Federal Court to appeal the rejection of their appeal to stay in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds (known as an H&C application). The family's lawyers, Lee Cohen and John O'Neill, argued that the best interests of the couple's three children - none of whom have ever been to Pakistan - were not adequately considered by the immigration officer who rejected the application.

The family has been fighting deportation since their original refugee claim was rejected in 2006. Last week's show of support from over 100 community members in the courtroom may have had an influence on the judge's decision to have the case sent back to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for review, sources close to the family say.

If the decision on the original H&C application is reversed, the family will be able to apply to remain in Canada as landed immigrants.