Fort Erie family facing deportation receives support from community

A woman in Fort Erie is fearful of the future Monday night, for herself and her family of nine children.

The federal government has ordered them to be deported to Nigeria, which they left three years ago, but Taiwo Fayemi says the Immigration and Refugee Department is deporting them without hearing their side of the story.

With Fayemi preparing for an interview with CHCH News, the community turned out in support.

Fayemi is a mother on her own in Canada with nine children — of ages between four and 19 — and is afraid for their survival.

“It’s just like, the government that we seek refuge from here in Canada, is putting the whole family in a body bag and sending us back to our country,” said Fayemi.

Fayemi and her children are to be sent back to Nigeria in a week.

She says Canada may be sending them to die.

“We don’t have… we don’t have…,” said Fayemi in-between sobs and wiping tears from her eyes, “it’s just like they’re sending us to kill us, to kill the whole family.”

Nigeria is plagued by violence and human rights issues.

Fayemi says she and her family were on vacation in the U.S. three years ago, when her husband was kidnapped in Nigeria.

He warned them that the kidnappers were waiting for the rest of the family.

She brought the family to Canada through Quebec’s Roxham Road border crossing, but their application for refugee application was denied.

“I am so terrified and so sad that the government wants to send us in a body bag because that is…” said Fayemi.

Friends and supporters say Fayemi and her family have become part of the community in Fort Erie.

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Members of one of her son’s soccer teams came to the interview to show their support.

“We don’t know if these emails will ever be opened or read, but we’re hoping that maybe one will and maybe it will be enough to allow the government to reverse their decision,” said one man who was at the interview in support.

There is also anger that while Fayemi is following the rules — applying to stay on humanitarian grounds — she is still being deported before the application is heard.

“It feels unfair,” said Martha Mason, with the Fort Erie Multicultural Centre. “I’m sure to Taiwo, she’s upset and sad and we’re sad for her. It feels hard and it would be nice if there was some other options.”

“I’m completely beside myself, because they haven’t given her a chance — they haven’t heard her side of the story,” said Christine Balabyekkubo, one of Fayemi’s supporters. “I pray that all moms can look at this, and please support this woman to not be taken out of this place.”

Fayemi and her children are afraid of what’s next.

“If we go back there, there is violence. We are at risk of getting killed,” said one of Fayemi’s sons.

“Us going back there is just like them just killing us, just draining our future, our lives,” said one of Fayemi’s daughters.

“This is not fair, not fair on the kids, and not fair on me — it’s unfair on my children. Look at this little girl, she just was two here,” said Fayemi, “she doesn’t know anything.”

There’s no indication so far whether appeals to Ottawa on their behalf will be successful.

CHCH News has reached out to the government about this case, and are waiting for a response.

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