A mother and daughter living in Calgary have been deported back to Mongolia after fleeing an abusive situation more than two years ago.
Ariunna Demberel and her daughter Enky Ankhbayar were escorted to their plane on Monday by Canada Border Services Agency officers, both struggling with the reality of the situation.
“I was trying not to think about the moment of being in the airport but… here I am,” said Ankbayar.
Demberel and Ankhbayar arrived in Calgary more than two years ago, fleeing an allegedly abusive situation involving Demberel’s ex-husband. According to Demberel, her ex-husband kidnapped them, beat them and raped her.
The mother and daughter applied for refugee status in Canada, but were denied because they lacked proof of the abuse.
“I feel empty, but thankful as well, to Canada for the two years and two months,” said Demberel at the airport.
Demberel and Ankhbayar lost the appeal that followed their application for refugee status and the emergency hearing this past weekend where a judge denied the request to put their deportation order on hold. The mother and daughter are still appealing on humanitarian grounds.
“The authorization to return is discretionary, not automatic, and that will be a hurdle of course in coming back even if the humanitarian application receives an initial approval,” said Ram Sankaran, an immigration lawyer.
According to Demberel, when the mother and daughter first arrived in Calgary they relied on their local foodbank. Soon after, Demberel began working three jobs to support herself and her daughter while Ankhbayar went to school. Demberel then volunteered at the food bank as a way to give back.
“These are not the people we should be sending away, these are the people that will contribute to our country,” said Don Lovett, a friend of Demberel and Ankhbayar.
Lovett described the situation as “emotional,” saying that he himself has four daughters and couldn’t imagine them being put in harm’s way.
According to Demberel, in the meantime, the two will try to find a safe place to stay in Mongolia that is hopefully far-away from Demberel’s ex-husband.
With a report by CTV Calgary's Shaun Frenette
