Sara Escarraga arrived in Niagara from Colombia seven years ago with her four young children. Since then, she has faced difficulties in gaining permanent residency status. In 2018, their refugee claim was rejected on a technicality, and in 2022, Immigration Canada misplaced their application for permanent residency based on Humanitarian and Compassionate Considerations. Now they are facing deportation with a removal date of July 3, 2024.

Despite these challenges, Sara has remained dedicated to supporting migrant workers in the region. Sara attended her first Niagara Migrant Workers Interest Group (NMWIG) meeting in 2020 during which, in a Zoom room full of strangers, she was elected as Chair. Under Sara’s community-oriented leadership, NMWIG has expanded its Health Fair events and outreach, which has meant that more migrant agricultural workers are aware of and use the services of our member organizations. For instance, in addition to the annual Health Fair in Niagara-on-the-Lake, we started an annual event in Pelham last year, which dramatically increased attendance at the Welland McMaster Family Health Team’s medical clinics allowing them to continue offering their services to migrant workers in Pelham.

Her involvement with NMWIG led her to become the coordinator for the Migrant Workers Program at Positive Living Niagara in 2022. In this role, Sara provides informational presentations and workshops in Spanish to migrant workers about sexual health. Additionally, she is the Local Site Coordinator with the ACE Program at Brock University.

Meanwhile, Sara is a devoted single mother supporting her four children. Andre, Luca, Federico, and Alexandra grew up in Canada and Niagara is the only home they know. They are active in their school communities and local team sports.

Time is running out. It’s less than a month away until this Niagara family is forced out of Canada based on technicalities and administrative errors. Sara has given so much to the Niagara community, and now is the time to give back to her. NMWIG can’t lose its Chair.

How to Support the Family:

• Sign and share the petition: Migrant Workers Alliance – Escarraga Family
• Donate to their GoFundMe for immigration lawyer fees: GoFundMe – Help Stop Our Deportation
• Contact your local MP asking them to tell the Ministers of Immigration and Public Safety to STOP the deportation.

Article contributed by Niagara Migrant Workers Interest Group