Moosomin raises money for family facing deportation

The fight to keep a Moosomin family in Canada continues.

The Santos family came to Canada seven years ago from Honduras after witnessing a murder that put their own lives in jeopardy.

But as they currently face deportation back to Honduras on July 5, people in their community of Moosomin are rallying around them.

“Even though that’s close, we still feel there’s hope for some intervention by either government officials or border services themselves to stay deportation,” said Russell Slugoski, also of Moosomin.

Slugoski is one of the people who organized a fundraising lunch for Thursday. He said the money will go towards the family’s legal battle and – if the worst case scenario happens – to help them resettle in Honduras.

He’s expecting upwards of 500 people to come out to support the family, which he hopes will send a strong message to the government.

“Hopefully this will appeal to their sense of humanitarian and compassion,” he said ahead of the lunch. “I wouldn’t ignore that if I was being lobbied to consider this.”

He said the fight to stay has been happening for nearly seven years now – with many failed appeals – and its taken its toll.

“It’s wearing on them – they’re now feeling, you know, the time is closing in on them,” he said. “They’re remaining optimistic as we are and that will remain until the last minute we know we’ll have to take them to the airport to return to Honduras.”

The fundraising lunch runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Moosomin Legion. Lunch plates are $10.

Slugoski said anyone who wants to donate to the Santos family can contact the Moosomin World-Spectator.