'It's for my daughter': Venezuelan family in Winnipeg who faced deportation will be able to stay

A Venezuelan family living in Winnipeg who were on the verge of being deported earlier this yearnow say they'll be allowed to stay in Canada.

Luiz Antonio Rodrigues Bonito said he, his wife, Sandra Suarez de Rodrigues, and his 12-year-old daughter, Ana Sofia Rodrigues Suarez, are all now in the process of becoming permanent residents.

"You know, it's not me. It's for my daughter," said Bonito.

"She's so happy here. She loves the school. She love the way life is here. She loves her friends. And I know she is very, very happy."

It's a relief for the family, who were facing a deportation order in Februaryafter a series of rejected applications to stay in Canada.

They had their bags packed and plane tickets booked for a flight to Portugal, before finding out they had been granted a two-year delay in thatorder, while they awaited the results of a humanitarianand compassionate case application they had filed.

Going back to Venezuela a country they fled after a traumatic 2014 home invasion wasn't an option due to the ongoing civil unrest andsafety concerns in the country.

The Canadian Human Rights International Organization (CHRIO), which advocates on behalf of thousands of refugees worldwide, handled their humanitarian plea.

Bonito said on Tuesday, he and his wifereceived an email from CHRIO with an attachment from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canadastating that they're now eligible for pre-arrival services meaning they could start the process of becoming permanent residents.

Mario Guilombo, the founder and chair president of CHRIO,has been handling the case.

He told CBC News that Bonito had prepared all the necessary documents, and that the family is already in the process of becoming permanent residents.

Winnipeg Liberal MPDoug Eyolfson, who hadlet the family know inFebruarythat the deportation order had been lifted, offered his congratulations.

"Due to Canada's privacy laws, I cannot comment on any specific case. However, I offer my heartiest congratulations to the family, and wish them best of luck," Eyolfson wrote in a statement to CBC News.

Long road to permanent residency

The family leftVenezuelaafter agroup of masked men broke into their gated yard in 2014.The armed invaders tied the family up and robbed them.

Bonito's sister, Cristina Rodrigues Bonito, was the first to leave when she acquired permanent residency. She came to Manitoba because of a connection to an older brother.

In 2015, Luizcame to Winnipeg on a tourist visa, as did his wife and daughter, after his application to Canada's skilled labourer program was dismissed. While here, he learned his application through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program was dismissed.

Bonito's application to stay in Manitoba on humanitarian and compassionate grounds was rejected in 2017, so his wife filed for refugee status on behalf of the family that year.

The refugee claim was denied and an attempt to appeal at the federal court level was dismissed in fall of 2018.

The family was notified in December they would have to leave early in the new year. They packed their bags and bought tickets to Portgual. But days before they were set to leave in February, the family was told the deportation order had been temporarily lifted.

'Now, we are good'

With the latest news, Bonito says he's looking forward to making more permanent plans in Winnipeg. He says he'd like to buy a house and get more painting jobs, like the ones he's been working since he received a work permit in 2017.

He says his daughter has been positive throughout the entire experience, even when they were preparing to leave for Portugala place they'd never been before and where they have no close familiy ties.Bonito's late father was born there,and helped him obtain a passportfor that country before he died a few years ago.

Bonito said his daughter has remained positive throughout.

"One day she tell me, 'You know what, Dad don't worry, we'll be very nice very good here, Portugal,or whatever. We are together," he said.

"Now she is happy. Thank you for everyone help us. She deserves everything. You know, she never complained about nothing, and we've gone through a lot. So now, we are good."

Family facing deportation can stay in Canada

5 years ago

Duration 1:54

A Venezuelan family living in Winnipeg who were on the verge of being deported earlier this year now say they'll be allowed to stay in Canada.