Supporters of Langley resident José Figueroa have organized a fund-raising dinner to help pay for a legal appeal of a recent federal ruling that denied his request to remain in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
The organizers of the “First Community Dinner for Family Unity” at the Walnut Grove Lutheran Church estimate the cost of the judicial review of that decision to be between $5,000 and $10,000.
Figueroa was ordered deported from Canada for belonging to the left-wing Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), a group linked to violent acts against the regime that ruled the country during the civil war from 1980 to 1992.
Though the FMLN went on to become the government of El Salvador following a non-violent and democratic election, and even though the government of Canada has formally recognized the FMLN, the immigration laws still consider it a terrorist group.
Figueroa and his wife are raising three children, all born in Canada.
“Our family is being threatened to be split,” Figueroa told The Times.
“Over three years of this struggle with immigration is way too much.
“The only way we will be able to achieve justice is with the support and solidarity of the community.”
The $20-a-plate dinner will feature Latin American cuisine provided by Hugo’s Mexican Kitchen, live music, and an auction.
It will be held Saturday, May 25 at 6 p.m. at the Walnut Grove Lutheran Church, 20530 88 Ave.
To RSVP or volunteer, people are asked to send an email to_communitydinner4familyunity@gmail.com by May 11.
Donors can make a deposit to any TD Bank branch to account 9186-63355905 (the reference name for the Trust account is Jonathan Dyck or Chris Nichol).
