Dozens rally in support of racecourse migrant workers expelled from Canada

Dozens of protesters lined up outside the main gate of the Pacific National Exhibition Monday afternoon, demanding protection and fair treatment for migrants workers arrested at a Vancouver racetracklast month.

Seven foreign workers were arrested and ordered to return to Mexico during theAug. 19 raidat the Hastings Racecourse, frustratingmany community members who believe the government mishandled the situation.

"People are really heartbroken this happened. And people are scared," saidMagin Payetwho organized the rally outside the PNE.

The rally took place the same dayan open lettercondemning the raidwas addressed to B.C. Attorney General David Eby. As of Monday evening, more than 200 individualsand organizations had signed the letter.

Falsified documents

The attorney general confirmed last week that an employee of B.C.'s Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch falsified documents to allow the foreign nationals to work as groomers at the racecourse without the properpermits.

The staff member is also alleged to have charged the workersa several hundred dollars for the documents.

Payet is frustrated the migrants are being punished for mistakes made by a government employee.

"I think the person who was falsifying the documents and cheating people and extorting them, getting them to pay up to $1,000 for a permit... That's the problem that needs to get addressed," saidPayet.

He adds the government should have worked with the foreign workers many of whom believed they had all the necessary documents to work in Canada to rectify the problem.

Rights for foreign workers

The letter is demanding that migrant workers be granted the right to permanent landing status upon arrival as well asfull and equal access to social programs and employment standards.

It also asksthat thebanished foreign workers be allowed to re-enter Canada and be grantedopen work permits andtemporary resident permits.

"We would like to see the provincial and federal governments coming together to protect these workers," said Byron Cruz, an outreach worker with Sanctuary Health, which, along with the No One is Illegal organization, initiated the letter.

Cruz says his organization would like a third party brought in to take over the investigation into the incident.

Along with Eby, several other politiciansare copied in the letterincluding Premier John Horgan, Vancouver-East MP Jenny Kwan, and the federal ministers for immigration, public safety, and border security.

"Under the rhetoric of 'uncovering exploitation,' ironically, the actions of the attorney general and CBSA have exacerbated vulnerability for these workers, several of whom now face a legal ban on re-entering Canada for years," the letter reads.

"[Eby] probably doesn't even know how much damage he has caused to the workers and their families," Cruz added.

CBC News has contacted David Eby for comment.