Roman Slepcsik, a 56-year-old former refugee from the Czech Republic, lost his protected status and permanent residency in Canada after traveling back to his home country multiple times since becoming a permanent resident in 1999.
Slepcsik fled to Canada in 1997 and was granted asylum in 1998. However, due to numerous trips back home using his Czech passport, his permanent residency was revoked in May 2021 at Pearson International Airport by the Canadian Border Services who determined he had voluntarily re-availed himself of the protection of Czech Republic and would lose both his refugee/permanent residency status.
Having lived in Canada for 27 years and worked in the construction industry for 24 years until the 2020 pandemic, Slepcsik argues that the automatic revocation of his permanent residency breaches his rights. He is seeking protection under the Canadian Charter of Rights to avoid being uprooted from Canada. This case is currently being contested in Canadian Federal Court, where a two-day hearing took place, September 17-18.
"These deprivations of the security of person are inconsistent with the principles of fundamental justice," Prasanna Balasundaram, a lawyer and director of U of T's Downtown Legal Services told the court.
Mr. Slepcsik's co-counsel is alumna Barbara Jackman (LLB 1976, Hon. LLD 2023).
The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights is also intervener on Section 12 of the Charter with counsel Erin V. Simpson (JD 2013); Warda Shazadi Meighen (JD 2009) as counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (intervener); and the research and expertise of Professor Audrey Macklin has been cited in these proceedings.
Read the complete story on the Toronto Star: After 27 years in Canada, why this ex-refugee faces removal (thestar.com)(Paywall)
