A family from Mexico City who has been living in Montreal since 2017 has been given three weeks to the leave the country. Armando Garcilazo Castillo explained that after settling in the city and finding work, his family had been waiting for their permanent residency applications to be processed. But on Friday, they learned their applications had been denied and they must leave by May 23. “We [did] everything right. We followed all the rules. We [didn’t do] anything. So, we don’t understand why they don’t accept us,” Garcilazo Castillo said in a recent interview. According to the family’s lawyer, the family asked to stay on humanitarian grounds after their refugee claim was denied. However, the federal government decided the family was not sufficiently established in Canada, and that request was also rejected. Garcilazo Castillo’s employer says the justification doesn’t make sense. “If we lose Armando, we don’t know what we’re going to do. It’s going to affect us in a very, very negative way. So, we’re all out of words,” said Yves Joannette, the owner of the Port-Royal service centre. He added that not only is his business being impacted, but it’s also difficult to find a skilled mechanic. “Armando fixes cars on the weekends for free for the Latino community. You know, like, we need people like this in Canada. I don’t understand why they’re sending them away like this. It’s unbelievable,” Joannette continued. Garcilazo Castillo’s wife and 26-year-old son, Alexis Garcilazo Guerrero, are also being expelled from the country. They both have jobs and have built lives in Montreal. “I don’t feel good because I don’t know what I’m going to do in my country after six years, start again. Find a job,” lamented Garcilazo Guerrero. He added that the hardest part is saying goodbye to his sister who married a Canadian and now has permanent residency. “She is going to have to live alone. So, it’s difficult.” The family and their employers are appealing to the local member of parliament, Patricia Lattanzio to intervene. Her office confirmed they are aware of the case but referred CTV News to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Immigration Canada had not responded to a request for comment by publication time. “We need help to have this family stay here. We need these people. We love these people. They’re our family, and they are Canadian as much as anybody here,” Joannette said.
