Mona Alatbash rounds up her family, each carrying either a chair or a flashlight, and heads to a nearby building where the phone signal is stronger than in their tent at the Khan Younis displacement camp. In southern Gaza, they set up the chairs in a dim corner and receive a video call from Mona’s sister Eman in Cobourg, Ont., brightening Mona’s face.
Quietly, Mona asks Eman for updates on their application to join Canada through the special measures program for Palestinian Canadians’ extended families. However, after nearly two years, there has been no progress on their request.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) initiated the program for Canadian and permanent resident families in Gaza in January 2024. Some families have resorted to paying bribes to facilitate their loved ones’ travel to neighboring countries as their Canadian visa applications remain stagnant.
Eman, who has been in Canada for a decade and is a single mother of two, applied on the program’s first day. Despite expecting a quick process, the family faced delays. Eman resorted to paying bribes to smuggle some family members out of Gaza when they reached the biometrics screening phase.
Eman’s family is scattered across Cobourg, Cairo, and Gaza due to stalled visa applications amidst the security screening phase. Eman is eager to reunite her family in Canada, especially after losing her brother in the war.
While IRCC reports that 880 individuals have already arrived in Canada through the special measures for extended family, sources reveal that the program faced challenges from the beginning due to insufficient resources and funding. The program is now closed to new applicants as all 5,000 spots are filled.
Security concerns and a lack of Arabic speakers within the government have contributed to delays in processing applications. Immigration lawyer Pantea Jafari notes that extended security screening delays are unusual for similar programs, citing court decisions that suggest processes should not be halted due to third-party actions.
Eman expresses the toll the situation has taken on her health, hoping for a positive outcome to reunite her family in Canada. Despite the challenges, she remains optimistic, envisioning a day when her children’s prayers for their family’s safe arrival will be answered.
