Toronto has taken a significant step beyond its sanctuary city status, now openly advocating for citizenship for all undocumented immigrants.
Sanctuary City to Citizenship Advocacy
Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, during a ceremony, emphasized the need for the “regularization” of undocumented immigrants. She framed this move as essential in countering growing anti-immigrant sentiment within Canada.
Financial Strains from Overwhelmed Shelters
A decade after declaring itself a sanctuary city, Toronto faces financial burdens in supporting shelter spaces, with up to 40% occupied by asylum seekers. The city is now seeking assistance from the federal and provincial governments to manage these costs.
Political Leadership and Anti-Immigrant Concerns
Deputy Mayor Malik spoke on Undocumented Residents Day at City Hall about the rising anti-immigrant sentiment in Canada. However, given her background as an immigrant’s child and her role as an elected official, her comments sparked reflection on the actual presence of anti-immigrant biases in Toronto.
Housing Affordability Crisis
The only growing concern among residents appears to be related to housing affordability, driven by the influx of over one million immigrants, a situation even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged challenges the country’s absorption capacity.
Regularization for Undocumented Residents
In response to these challenges, Malik is pushing for a regularization process for undocumented residents, aiming to integrate them fully into Canadian society.
Rising Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric and the Call for Regularization
As anti-immigrant sentiments increase both in Canada and globally, community leaders and advocates are intensifying their demands for an immediate, broad, and inclusive regularization program that offers pathways to permanent residency for all undocumented residents. Malik emphasized the collective efforts to dismantle systems of colonialism and anti-Black racism.
However, what Malik, along with Mayor Chow and city officials, refer to as “undocumented,” many people classify as illegal. Some individuals entered the country clandestinely or overstayed their visas, while others had their refugee claims dismissed due to lack of merit. The common thread here is the failure to adhere to immigration rules that millions before them have followed.
In an attempt to clarify Malik’s stance on immigration laws, I reached out with questions regarding her support for open borders and the potential overhaul of Canada’s current immigration system. Despite sending three emails and making two phone calls, Malik’s office did not respond.
Based on her recent statements, it is evident that both Malik and Mayor Chow endorse granting legal status to those who have broken immigration laws.
Source: The original article was published in the Toronto Sun by Brian Lilley.
