Star hurdler Lindo faces deportation amid Olympic trials
As Canadian track star Lindo prepares for the Olympic trials, he is also facing the threat of deportation. Despite his success in hurdling, Lindo’s family has struggled to secure legal status in Canada, leading to two close calls with deportation in 2024.
The stress of potentially being deported has taken a toll on Lindo, causing him to lose weight and struggle with his athletic performance. He is not alone in this situation, as estimates suggest there could be anywhere from 20,000 to 500,000 undocumented immigrants in Canada.
Many undocumented immigrants, like Lindo, enter the country legally but lose their status due to various reasons, such as expired visas or rejected applications. The Canadian government has seen a rise in deportations, with an estimated 40 deportations happening each day in 2023.
Amidst this crisis, advocacy groups like Canada’s Migrant Workers Alliance for Change are fighting for a regularisation program that would grant legal residency to undocumented individuals. However, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has yet to implement such a program, citing concerns of nationalistic backlash and the perceived benefits of maintaining the current system.
Vincent Wong, an assistant law professor, notes that undocumented communities in Canada are often overlooked and marginalized compared to those in the United States. Without a clear path to legal residency, individuals like Lindo continue to face uncertainty and the threat of deportation.
As Lindo prepares for the Olympic trials, his future in Canada remains uncertain. Advocates continue to push for policy changes that would offer a lifeline to undocumented immigrants facing deportation.
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