MONTREAL - Several local notables are pleading with Ottawa to rescind the deportation order of a woman being sent back to Mexico midway through her cancer treatment.
Evelia Castrejon Santoyo fled her native Mexico out of fear of drug-related violence. She left her adult children behind when she came to Montreal five years ago where she found work until she was sidelined by a car accident.
She battled poverty as well as an abusive relationship and was then being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, for which she is currently being treated with chemotherapy.
“I’m suffering a lot, with anemia, I sleep a lot and can’t walk much,” she told CTV Montreal.
In spite of her delicate condition, the federal government has denied her refugee request and ordered her to leave the country by next Tuesday.
Hochelaga federal MP Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet is amongst those trying to persuade the feds to allow the woman to stay.
“I'm hoping Monday they're going to get somewhere because I don't know how much power the minister actually has. They have this discretionary power on paper. Do they really have it?” she asked.
