'It is absolutely inhumane'

The deportation order fell on World Refugee Day.

"Canadians continue to help newcomers establish their lives here with compassion and openness," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote in a public statement to mark the day.

"I think this would be a very important day for Canada to demonstrate the sincerity in those words," Jenny Kwan, the federal NDP immigration critic, told CBC News after reading about the family.

'Canada can do better.' - Jenny Kwan, NDP immigration critic

She is calling on Canada's immigration minister, Ahmed Hussen, to consider their case.

"To separate the children from their family [and] from their parents is just inhumane — it is absolutely inhumane and I think Canada can do better," Kwan said.

"This seems to me is a case where the minister needs to exercise his right to intervene."

Kwan is the vice-chair of a standing committee on citizenship and immigration. The multi-party committee has so far released 12 reports about issues affecting immigrants and refugees in Canada.

Last Friday, members agreed to 21 recommendations that would tighten the regulation of immigration consultants. The move is meant to protect vulnerable immigrants from exploitation.

"Unfortunately, in some cases, unscrupulous representatives take advantage of these individuals, which may have dire consequences for applicants, including delays with immigration applications, financial hardship and losing legal immigration status in Canada," the report states.

"In the spirit of the committee's recommendation and report, I hope that the minister will take that into consideration and put it into practice," Kwan said.

The federal government has not yet adopted the recommendations.

'This has broke me'

Eighteen-year-old Nely Picon Duarte said she's not ready to be without her parents. She was born with a kidney disease that requires specialized care.

"My dad has always promised me that ... if I need a transplant or something, he'd be there for me," she said.

"And now he probably won't be."

If her family is deported, 18-year-old Nely Picon Duarte (right) said she will abandon her dream of becoming a nurse to take care of her siblings. (Scott Neufeld/CBC)

A childhood spent in hospital inspired the teen to become a nurse, which is why Nely said she applied at NorQuest College in Edmonton.

She hasn't been able to bring herself to decline the offer she received in the spring.

Nely is being deported to the U.S. with her three younger siblings. 

"It seems I'll be the one taking charge of them," she said.

"I was hoping to go to college and such, but it looks like I might not be able to because I have to take care of my siblings because they come first before myself."

'It hurts,' Edisson Picon Duarte said about the thought of being separated from his siblings. (Scott Neufeld/CBC)

While Nely and her younger siblings move in with a relative in Texas, their oldest brother Edisson Picon Duarte is being forced back to Guatemala. 

"It hurts," is all he could say about his family's situation.

Edisson had dreamed of becoming an architect once his papers were approved. He worked at a cleaning service with his mother to help pay for the family's immigration.

"My son is really strong and this is the first time I've seen him cry," his father said. "This has broke me."

Community rallying support

Advocacy and support groups have rallied for the family since news of their situation broke.

Members of Migrante Alberta are raising awareness about the case in the hopes that it catches the attention of Canada's immigration minister.

The organization usually works with Filipino immigrants, but director Marco Luciano said supporting the Guatemalan family is "the Canadian thing to do."

He hopes the deportation order is delayed until their application to stay in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds can be processed.

"Our focus now is to make sure the family stays together," he said.

Yazmin Juarez, with Memoria Viva Society of Edmonton, fled Guatemala as a teenager. 

"When I heard about this story, it touched home," said Juarez, who was accepted as a refugee in Canada.

Her organization supports members of the Latin American community in Edmonton.

"We're trying to use everyone's talents," she said about efforts to keep the family in Edmonton. "We have received quite a bit of support."

The organization is planning a fundraiser at Mercury Room on June 29.

If this happen in America, dem Canadians would be cussing Trump from foreday maaning till what o' clock a night!

In Canada, whether we agree/disagree with the decision, there is an open legal process before a decision is made on each case.

In the US_of_A, based on Trump's executive orders which is currently declared as null and void and are thus far not applicable, citizens from various countries were blanketed as non-admissible in the US_of_A.

I can finally say Donald Trump have more compassion for deportees than the Canadians government. This cruelty is unbearable to such nice family.  

Ahhh sit on it. Trump has more what? Trump does not know the word "Compassion" that banna so dumb he would probably think it's "comp asian" a new computer built in Asia.

Canadians can cry about Trump all they want. Yesterday there were elections for five positions in the House.  The Republicans won all 5 seats.  Democrats none.  America has spoken - Again!!!! For Trump!!

Down the drain they go at a fast rate of speed.

If Canada gave up on their deportees, send them to America. Regardless what Canadians may think of our immigration policy, America never let a family suffers in such undignified manner. 

Bibi Haniffa posted:

Canadians can cry about Trump all they want. Yesterday there were elections for five positions in the House.  The Republicans won all 5 seats.  Democrats none.  America has spoken - Again!!!! For Trump!!

Republicans retained their seats in the recent selected elections in their strong traditional locations.

Of note, the Republicans retained their seats with a far lesser margins that were won in the last election.

They won in the trailer parks.

Bibi Haniffa posted:

Canadians can cry about Trump all they want. Yesterday there were elections for five positions in the House.  The Republicans won all 5 seats.  Democrats none.  America has spoken - Again!!!! For Trump!!

With the Republicans winning the seats with a far less majority than in the last election, America has indeed sent a message to Trump ...

... "At the 2018 elections, Republicans are on the way down".