Immigration attorney Hana Marku expressed her frustration upon receiving an email containing a photo of a malnourished baby in the Gaza Strip, one of the 50 Palestinians she represents. These individuals were prevented from submitting applications under Canada’s temporary visa program without any explanation.
Marku highlighted the dire circumstances faced by her clients in Gaza, including daily threats of death and harrowing experiences such as narrowly escaping bombings and witnessing loved ones being crushed by rubble. In response to the delays and lack of communication from the Immigration Department, Marku sought a Federal Court ruling to challenge the handling of her clients’ applications.
The temporary visa program, initiated by the Canadian government in January 2024, was supposed to provide relief to Palestinians seeking refuge from the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, despite timely application submissions, Marku’s clients never received the necessary reference codes to proceed with their applications, leading to a sudden closure of the program due to reaching its cap over a year later.
One family member of Marku’s clients shared his ordeal of trying to secure visas for his relatives, resorting to risky measures to evacuate them from Gaza. The Canadian government’s response to the situation in Gaza was met with criticism, with Marku pushing for an emergency hearing to address the humanitarian crisis.
While the Immigration Department acknowledged the challenges in Gaza, it deemed further action regarding the visa program as futile. Marku’s efforts to expedite the resolution through the Federal Court were met with uncertainty, as the government’s stance remained unchanged.
Despite the visa program’s limitations, a significant number of Palestinians have managed to arrive in Canada, while others await approval. The Immigration Department clarified its policy regarding application processing, emphasizing adherence to the program’s cap, which has seen over 880 Palestinians successfully resettled in Canada.
