Thread by @MWACCanada

BREAKING: Migrant students deliver 16,000 petitions to Immigration Minister to stop mass deportations ahead of Dec 31 deadline!

@marcomendicino @JustinTrudeau Don't punish migrants for the pandemic. Make work permits renewable. #RenewPGWP #StatusForAll

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Thousands were given time-restricted work permits upon graduation, but must complete high-waged jobs to qualify for PR. With COVID-19 job losses worsening again in the 2nd wave, most don't have access to these jobs and yet their permits remain non-renewable and are set to expire.

COVID-19 has changed everything, but unfair immigration rules stay the same. Current & former international students are running out of time. Thousands face deportation after December 31st if they don’t fulfill requirements for permanent residency that are out of their control.

“My family and I have made sacrifices for me to come live in Canada. I’ve built a life here, believing that I would get PR. I did everything by the book... Now, there are just no jobs, and I may not be able to complete the requirements before my PGWP expires." -Rahil, Mig Student

Many migrant students are essential workers:
⚙️delivery workers
⚙️cleaners
⚙️construction workers
⚙️freelancers
⚙️warehouse workers

But this work can't be counted towards PR. Work done during the school year is excluded.

These immigration rules make it impossible for us.

“The federal government has announced that it will grant 400,000 people permanent residency next year, but this is simply not possible because under current laws most people simply can’t fulfill the requirements due to COVID-19 job losses" - @hussansk

Not only do we face deportation, but because of permit processing delays, “we can’t start jobs on time, and without active work permits, we can’t access emergency income supports or healthcare,” says Maria, a migrant student worker.

We need equal rights for ALL migrant workers.

Migrant students demand the gov't:
✅FIX RULES AROUND WORK: Renew PGWP & value all work
✅GIVE REAL ACCESS TO PR: #StatusForAll migrants & undocumented people
✅LOWER TUITION & ENSURE FULL SERVICES: healthcare, housing, income supports
✅UNITE FAMILIES: work permits for families

ADD YOUR VOICE & CALL MINISTER MENDICINO NOW TO #RENEWPGWP & STOP MASS DEPORTATIONS! Call Minister Mendicino at 416-781-5583 or 613-992-6361.

SIGN THE PETITION: MigrantWorkersAlliance.org/FixPGWP

Read our live thread of the petition delivery action here!

https://twitter.com/mwaccanada/status/1331245197125095424

Please help amplify this thread to stop the mass deportations of migrant students! @CFSON @JoyAndDefiance @policingblack @nooneisillegal @HarshaWalia @migrantecanada @CUPEOntario @RyeSJChair @CJusticeTO @CJEdmonton Tag others! Let’s flood the Immigration Minister’s phone lines!