RIGHT NOW…Niagara Migrant Hunger Strikers Support Network is urging people to pressure those responsible for the conditions of the men into meeting justified demands.  Please take a minute to write an email or call Richard Comerford, Regional Director General of CBSA and insist that their demands be met.

…you can help by clogging up the email/phone lines of the Niagara Detention Center and the Regional Director to get across this important message. Please share this with anyone. Strength in numbers.

* EMAIL Regional Director Richard.Comerford@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca & CALL HIM at 905-994-6000
* CALL Niagara Detention Centre 905-227-6321.

Demand that the hunger strikers be immediately transferred to Toronto and get access to urgent medical care.

Niagara Migrant Hunger Strikers Support Network aims to improve the welfare of immigration detainees, primarily those held at the Niagara Detention Center in Thorald, Ontario.

Sergio Puerto, Sandro Philippe, Jesus Galban, Ibrahim Ali Farrah and Victor Moses refugee claimants from Latin America and the Caribbean and Southern Africa have been jailed at the Niagara Detention Centre for between 3 to 6 months. Other then 10 minutes a day in a concrete yard – they have been locked up without community support.

In mid-November, they began water-only hunger strike demanding that their release be expedited and that they be moved to Toronto where they hope their files will be processed quicker. On November 23, Jesus Galban, fell off his bed and was denied medical aid until they ended the hunger strike. Officers from Canada Border Services Agency promised immediate action on their file. Since then Victor Moses has been moved and they have not been informed of his whereabouts.

On December 11, 2011, Sergio Puerto, Sandro Philippe, Jesus Galban and Ibrahim Ali Farrah began a rolling hunger strike.

LIST OF DEMANDS:

• That the inmates be immediately transferred to Toronto where they believe their cases will be quickly expedited and where they all have family and community support.
• That Citizenship and Immigration stop delaying justice by keeping all immigration detainees an unreasonably long time in detention for no reason.
•  Immediate medical assistance for: Jesus – had an accident on November 23rd. Fell off a six foot bunk that had no ladder. Back severely injured and no doctor has attended despite repeated requests. Only medication given so far to relieve pain is Tylenol.

Sandro also having problems with his back- slipped and fell (water on floor) in mid November. Has still received no medical attention.

Canada Border Services Agency has given endless excuses for holding these men. They claim that they are flight risks, even before some of their refugee claims have been processed. Some are facing deportation because of criminal convictions in Canada and the United States even though they have already served their sentences – a clear example of unjust double punishment. Attempts by community members to act as bonds-people and even put up financial sureties have been rejected.

Faced with lack of information, and continued lies by Canada Border Services Agency, Sergio, Sandro, Jesus and Ibrahim have decided to initiate a hunger strike. It is critical that we support them.

We will be organizing actions in St. Catharines, Niagara and Toronto.

Four inmates launch hunger strike at Niagara Detention Center