13-year-old “Luis Alberto” made a refugee claim at the Canadian Border last year alongside a number of extended relatives that included aunts, uncles, cousins and a grandparent, all of whom fled their country in South America north to Canada. During this migration process, Luis Alberto was separated from his parents, who remained back in his country of origin, unable to leave.
Luis Alberto’s extended family members tried to look out for him, but upon arrival in Canada they became preoccupied with their own refugee claims and settlement needs. Being a child, Luis Alberto did not understand what was required of him by the Canadian government. As a result, essential immigration documents for Luis Alberto were never filed, and his refugee claim was declared abandoned, meaning that he could be deported from Canada.
The Centre for Refugee Children stepped in and immediately connected him with qualified legal counsel, who advocated that the Immigration and Refugee Board reopen his claim on the grounds that he was a separated minor with no representative or legal guardian in Canada. Luis Alberto’s case was eventually reopened, and staff from the Centre for Refugee Children was appointed as his Designated Representative moving forward to ensure his claim for protection was properly organized and he had the supports he needed. Our staff made contact with his parents in South America and other family members in Canada to make a plan on how Luis Alberto could be best supported in Canada. Working with Luis Alberto, his parents and his legal counsel, the Centre for Refugee Children supported the child to secure a more stable living situation where he is with a relative who can care for him.
Since then, Luis Alberto has registered in school and is receiving income support to meet his essential needs. Luis Alberto’s case is one example of how the Centre for Refugee Children is working to ensure that children do not fall through the cracks and risk removal to situations of persecution.