Press Release
Community Organizations Unite to Call on Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to Stop the Deportation of Valued Community Member.
[xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ (Vancouver), Feb 26, 2025] – Friends, family, and community organizations are coming together to demand an immediate halt to the deportation of Marcia Lopez. Marcia, a survivor of domestic violence in Chile, sought refuge in Canada after the judicial system in her home country failed to protect her. Since she arrived in 2021, Marcia has shown immense strength and resilience, dedicating herself to rebuilding her life. She trained as an electrical worker and joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (“IBEW”), where she contributed to alleviating the significant labour shortage in the electrical trade. She currently works at the new St. Paul’s Hospital as part of the Controls Crew.
In August 2024, Marcia applied for permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds and she is still waiting for a decision. Despite this ongoing application and her severe health challenges, the Canada Border Services Agency (“CBSA”) is proceeding with her deportation scheduled on February 28th, 2025. Members of the IBEW Local 213 and the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, Carnegie Housing Project, the Democratic Socialists of Vancouver, Migrant Students United, Migrante BC, Vancouver Worker’s Assembly and Sanctuary Health are calling on the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller urging him to intervene and grant Marcia a Temporary Resident Permit. In one day, nearly 1500 people sent a letter to the Minister.
Those who know Marcia describe her as a hardworking, compassionate individual with deep commitments to social causes.
“Marcia is an asset as an electrical worker in the middle of her apprenticeship, if she is forced to leave we will lose a friend, a worker, a fierce volunteer. We need workers,” says Darren Danbrook, Dispatcher of IBEW Local 213 and President of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus.
On top of working and managing chronic pain, Marcia volunteers with multiple organizations, including Britannia Community Services Centre, First United’s Social Justice Committee, Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House, Migrante BC, and the City in Colour Cooperative.
"She came to Canada three years ago, fleeing domestic violence. During those years, she learned English, volunteered actively in our community, went to school to learn to be an electrical worker and is currently gainfully employed in that field,” says Marcia’s friend who volunteers with her at First United’s Social Justice Committee. “Besides all that, she is a positive and energetic person who has worked hard to give back to our community in gratitude for its sanctuary. Marcia is an invaluable asset to our community."
Marcia suffers from a debilitating condition that severely affects her mobility and quality of life. She endures chronic pain and is in urgent need of hip replacement surgery, which is critical to her health. Without this procedure, her condition will continue to worsen. While CBSA has acknowledged her diagnosis, they have failed to recognize the full severity of her situation. Medical care in Chile is uncertain at best, and returning to her home country would jeopardize her well-being.
“When I came here, I started from the bottom and built my community and my life here in Canada little by little,” says Marcia. “My family are citizens of Canada–if I’m deported, I would be returning to a place with no support, no family, and without health insurance to cover my treatments. This deportation ruling feels like cutting off my lifeline.”
The emotional toll of this impending deportation has exacerbated her anxiety and depression, placing her mental health at greater risk. A forced return to Chile would expose her to the real dangers of violence and further trauma, leaving her without a support system.
"Asking Marcia to return to a country where she is unsafe and without adequate medical care, all while her application for permanent residence is still in progress, is not only unjust—it is inhumane," says Omar Chu, Member of Sanctuary Health. "We are calling on Minister Marc Miller to intervene and allow Marcia to remain in Canada."
Community organizations and local supporters are urgently calling on Minister Miller and the Canadian government to halt Marcia's deportation. Over the past six months, the government has introduced several policies that increasingly target and restrict migrants' access to immigration status. The government also announced it was abandoning its plans for a regularization program. These moves scapegoat migrants for the current cost-of-living crisis to distract us from the real crisis of government policy that puts profit over people.
Marcia’s case is not an isolated one — she represents countless other migrants who are at risk of deportation under these harmful policies. Forcibly removing people like Marcia away from their family, friends and community is not a solution. Her loss would be a devastating blow to the community in Vancouver and would put her life and health in jeopardy.
“Marcia is raising her voice, she fights and protests, those are things that a lot of people won't do, but she does, she speaks up and says: this is my truth, and by doing that she is representing many others facing the same reality who are not able to raise their own voices,” - Marcia’s daughter Noelia
From Travel Agent to Electrical Worker
I looked at the pictures and I said to myself, I have changed more than that; I started writing this because I don't want to forget all the people I found in my path and helped me keep going. I dress every day at 5:30 to pick up my tools and help my crew. Since I started working in the New St Paul's hospital, the love for my trade increases every day. My co-workers are respectful, my forepeople are fair and always open to teaching you.
Building a new life in another country is difficult. You know nothing.
While I was waiting for my work permit back in 2022 I started volunteering in different organizations such as Quest supermarket, Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, Frog Hollow Neighborhood House, Kiwassa Neighborhood House, and that allowed me to meet lots of people, to know a little about working in Canada. Of course you have to speak with them, communicating is key. It happens sometimes that you find some people who make fun of your pronunciation, but that also helps to keep studying and improving.
My work permit arrived in May 2022, I was living in Queensborough, my third shared house; My first interview was with a bank. I was so excited I mocked interviews with my friends, I attended workshops online at Vancouver Public Library, I felt It was a very good interview but I was rejected. At my tenth rejection, I was living in my fifth shared house and I accepted that none of my previous experience and diplomas were helping in my job search, also my fluency in that time was minimum. Chatting in the kitchen with a roommate, I discovered she was a welder, and she suggested checking the BCCWITT Facebook page. I found the ad that led me to become an electrical worker.
A couple of months before that conversation, I sent an application to work BC including my work permit, and they responded I was assigned to an office on Hasting street, I emailed my caseworker, sadly he didn't get back to me, so after my call to BCCWITT I realize I needed to have a Work BC caseworker to get into the class. I went to the office and my caseworker was on holiday. I asked what I could do and the person there said you have to wait for him to return. I asked to talk with a supervisor, who gently took my complaint and allowed me to ask a caseworker I knew to take my case. Claudia and Tammy made this possible. In two days, I was enrolled in a System Security Technician class with five other women at the Electrical Joint Training Committee.
The first two months were hard, I was living in an SRO in West Hastings street and my school is in Port Coquitlam. After I get used to the travel time combining SkyTrain and buses, it started the challenge of listening, understanding and talking in my second language. I arrived every day and watched YouTube videos after school, trying to soak In more information. After that period, I had a great time learning, and I met such nice ladies, teachers and union members.
I did my practicum and started working as a member of the fiber optic crew. The last six months in that company were really challenging because I was sent to a crew that spoke in a different language than English and I was totally lost most of the day. I decided I won't continue working in the trades when I get laid off.
I had the chance to attend BCFED's English as Additional Language class, where I learned new words, new subjects, and everything about worker protection. I also found Options's online-English-conversation class that I am still taking and has been helping me in my scholar development. I was also accepted in an online certificate called Community Capacity Building at Simon Fraser University, at that time I was moving out for the eleventh time to my first one-bedroom apartment. Thanks to my friend Ann Mary and her connections, I lived there for three months. The privilege of learning at SFU's Community Capacity Building 8 (CCB8) class is something I will be grateful for forever, as I always say They teach you how to use the tools you carry inside and much more. I also enrolled in Restorative Justice at SFU. I tried to find a new job for five months but again I had no luck again.
In August 2024, I received a call from my school. Shannon said: "Marcia, this company is needing SST workers, Are you in?" I said, of course I am in, It is a blessing to receive a call offering you a job. I went back to work in electrical data and for a few days in security. I learned a lot. They laid me off after two months. I called my union International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local 213, and in two days I was working again.
Parallel to all these adventures, I was dealing with the immigration process. As i said, I received my work permit five months after I arrived. When I arrived, I also submitted a refugee claim, I did the medical exams, biometrics. When they accepted my claim, I gave up my passport to IRCC, and they gave me my Refugee claimant document. It started the waiting time for my hearing. It is so stressful, you are waiting, and preparing your evidence, talking to your lawyer, going over and over through your story, remembering, feeling the body pain. The hearing was set for July 28, 2023. Finally, one step was finished. The agent in charge was almost sleeping when she was listening to my story, she yawned several times, I felt so vulnerable and victimized again. She said the decision will be pending. A few days later my legal aid lawyer sent a text saying we have lost and I have to look for a new lawyer. My first reaction was that I can go to another country, crying, trying to understand. I remember I was on Committees day at Hilton Metrotown when I decided to appeal. I had help from a lawyer from the Immigration Legal Clinic (they are great), and we lost again. I was alone for the last chance. I presented more than 100 pages explaining why I need to stay, but I got refused again on March 6 2024. Then, I applied for my work permit extension in May 2024 and they sent the new document in July 2024. I got a new lawyer from legal aid for my Permanent Residence application who submitted my file in August 2024. The last days of January 2025, I received an email from CBSA inviting me to update my file, the interview was really nice, the agent "General Cheng" how we called him with my daughter (Mulan's reference with the proper voice) was a very good active listener, but after all the kindness showed he asked me to leave the country. I explained with tears in my eyes "I can't go to Chile, I will die, also my mother, siblings and nephews are here, my daughter just arrived in December to spend a year with me, I am on a waiting list for hip replacement at St Paul's hospital, I have job because I am a union worker, I have health insurance, a way to pay my rent all because of my union, I have a valid work permit, and also submitted my Permanent residence application. He repeated like ten times, "you failed in leaving the country after your last rejection" I told him, but I didn't know that, I was waiting for CBSA to contact me, he said "you had to contact us". That day I understood that having a proper legal representation is so important, It is your life we are talking about.
I have always been living payroll by payroll, I never had the chance to save money. I pay my rent, send money to my daughters, buy food, and pay for transit. During the days we were doing the "Save Marcia" campaign, I had the greatest support ever. I remember Ceci telling me "Marcia ask our classmates for help" I said I don't want to bother them, I was hoping the lawyer would win, Darren offered to talk in front of the Federal court, but this hearing was between the lawyer and the judge. After the hearing she sent me an email with the last rejection. I was frozen, crying while at work. I asked my friends if they can write me letters of support. I didn't have a clear idea about what to do with the letters yet, Tanis asked me if she can organized a letter writing group and she organized and mobilized our friends, Natalia suggested "I can go with you to my MP and we can ask what are the options" I said yes, and after talking with the MP's assistant, I was on the way to connect with my MP. Then Rahil said, I will direct my letter to your MP, then Chris sent a list with all the names and emails from people I could contact, finally Kay put me in contact with Sanctuary health who in hours connect me with the "dream-team" and offered me the chance to made the online campaign, my friends were sending letters of support to the Minister Miller, MPs Fry and Kwan emails,then one MP answered to Rahil's letter, then the other MP to Midori's letter; the Action Network website was ready to click a button and send a letter too, The call campaign was starting, the posts made on Instagram and Facebook were been seeing for thousand of people. It was more than I ever imagined. I was so stressed because you have to send messages repeatedly, and even if I used to send a lot of messages with activities or campaigns, this time it was mine and you have to fight with your traumas of not being enough and omg, it was difficult, how is difficult now that I am asking for donations to cover legal fees from a lawyer that Omar suggested. It feels like big.
Over the past three years, I've prioritized my mental health. The diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, "...attributed to your repeated abuse...", was devastating, but led me to ask for help, also to understand that I can not do everything alone and I need to work in my healing to have a better life.Here in Vancouver exists a deep acknowledge of human conditions, and there are great organizations working for us, people who need help. At the beginning I was scared because I didn't have my medical service plan, or insurance -I have to wait until working for that- but I found an association called BWSS they helped me with housing, with my electrical career and also I have a great psychologist after two years of wait but totally worth it. I also found a domestic violence prevention program at Kiwassa and I had great sessions with my angel Marilyn, She saved me, she taught me so much things, gave me so much tools. In Addition, I was taking a program called W.I.S.H.E.S. in the house I was living; learning things that, as a woman from south América, I never imagined having the right. I realize if you look for help you find it.
