Reprieve for family facing exit over child

A Nigerian family on the verge of being forced out of the country because of their newborn has been granted a reprieve.

Dimeji and Deborah Tawose and their three children will all now receive temporary resident permits. The couple, both medical radiographers, came to Calgary on July 12 under the federal skilled worker program. But they were told to leave because their third child was born in the U.S. while their visas were being processed. Confusion over the status of their youngest child, who’s still nursing, had the family fearing they’d need to leave the country, or force the baby apart from his family for weeks. The reprieve will allow the family to stay in Calgary for a year while they sort out their paperwork.

“I feel like I can roll on the floor and give God all the glory,”  the 35-year-old mother is reported to have said, who broke out in tears upon hearing the news at the airport. Her husband stood up and embraced his family, as per a leading TV channel. “We thank God also for the officers,” the father said. “We are so delighted with the outcome and we are so positive that the administrative issues will be rectified in no time.”

Earlier  the Tawose couple was asked to withdraw their application to enter Canada. The 45-year-old father said no, and pleaded for compassion instead. The parents told media in Calgary that they had tried numerous times to notify Canadian officials about their situation, but a visa was never issued for their newborn.

At the hearing, the Canadian border agents acknowledged those efforts. In response, Citizenship and Immigration Canada also agreed to issue two open work permits for the couple.

After days of uncertainty and living with friends, Deborah Tawose said she’ll finally be able to sign a pre-arranged rental lease and move into a home with her husband and children in the northwest community of Panorama Hills.