'American refugee' leaves Oregon to claim asylum in Canada

A 57-year-old man who has spent the majority of his life living in the United States is claiming asylum in Canada after he says his employment authorization card was not renewed this year in Oregon.

"There was a deportation order standing against me in the United States," said WajiDanoun.

"The United States deemed me a stateless person because Lebanon the country of my birth, does not have a record of my birth."

Danounsaid he arrived in the U.S. in 1978 on a falsified passport, but was able to legally work and stay in the country for 39 years.

"I was under immigration probation Iwasgiven an employment authorization. andwas allowed to work and [had to] report periodically."

But this year, Danoun said, hisemployment card was not renewed.

"Isaw the writing on the wall. Ifigured I was on the list to be picked up by immigration, so I just left."

The decision wasn'teasy. Danoun left behind a carpentry business and friends in Fall Creek, Ore.

"The night before Ileft, Isaw my landlady working on her yard. Ijust wanted to talk to her and give her a hug and Icouldn't do it, because Ijust knew she was going to cry and Iwas going to cry. It wasjustvery difficult to say goodbye."

Craigslistad leads to housing offer

Danounsaid he crossed the Sumasborder in Washington on Feb.17and arrived in Canada, where he was taken into police custody before being turned over to the CanadaBorder Services Agency.

He was released 12 days later and spent some time in a hotel before posting an ad on Craigslist to find housing.

"Iput an ad offering my carpentry skills in exchange for a place to stay, and then this family contacted me and said you don't really have to do anything for us, but we'd like to open our house to you and offer you shelter," said Danoun.

"I'm very grateful to be here."

The woman who contacted Danoun with a housing offerjust happened to be a refugee advocate who was searching for a home contractor.

"It's not the type of thing you expect to see when you're scrolling through the skilled trades list on Craigslist," said Zarah Tinholt.

The Tinholt family have offered Danoun a temporary room in their home while he processes his refugee claim in B.C.

"The concept of 'Americanrefugee,' like, whoever would imagine that," said Tinholt. "This is just the strangest situation, and Ijust hope it ends soon and we don't have to hear too much of this thing. But in the meantime, as soon as he gets on his feet, he's going to make Canadaan incredible place and we're all the better for it."

'Trump jump'

Danoun believes his employment authorization was not renewed because of the policies ofthe new U.S. administration.

"One of DonaldTrump's main campaign ideas was to crack down on illegal immigrants," said Danoun.

"With the change of the immigration law, stateless people like myself had two options one, according toTrump, waspromisingto drop us off at thecountrywe came from. In my case, Lebanon. Andthe otherwas indefinite detention. DonaldTrump manufactured the enemy out of the immigrant so Ihad to do the hump Trump jump and jump the border."

Danoun isin the process of filing his asylum claim in Canada.

"The future is a blank slate. Everything is in God's hands. My plan is to hopefully acquire the permission to remain in Canada and resume my work as a carpenter and live in peace without having the threat of being yanked and deported."