Ye Gods, Another One

There are so many people living in Canada illegally, many of whom have had their requests for refugee status denied, and those who have entered the country eluding authorities, and others whose citizenship has been revoked for failing to divulge an (inadmissible) criminal past or the truth relating to their status, or having been involved with a criminal and/or human-rights abusing government. People who have been ordered deported, but who manage to evade authorities.

If, however, some individuals have been incarcerated for having committed crimes within Canada, and they are recognized not to have citizenship rights, they can be deported to their countries of origin, and several such situations have been latterly reported. The Immigration and Refugee Board is in the process of scheduling an inadmissibility hearing for an Ottawa resident without citizenship status, although he was born in Canada.

Through a deliberately written exclusionary detail of citizenship law pertaining to Canadian-born children of foreigners at diplomatic missions in Canada, a twenty-year-old man of East Indian heritage is to be returned to his parents' country. "I'm not from there. I don't know anyone there and I don't even speak the language", Deepan Budlakoti moaned in an interview. "This whole thing is not fair."

He's right, isn't he? But then, life isn't fair, either. While he was in the process of growing up, he became very well known to Ottawa police. He was accused of having broken into hundreds of homes. He was a runaway at twelve years of age, because house rules didn't agree with him. He contracted a habit of robbing peoples' homes of whatever he felt might be of value to him.

He had time in youth jail, spent part of his leisure time in group homes for troubled boys, but ended up for the most part living on the streets, sleeping in parks, or crashing with friends. And then he ultimately turned himself around, completed his high school education, obtained a diploma, and began performing construction jobs; roofing, renovations, paving, landscaping. He had a thriving business.

He made something of his life. He was never accused of being violent, a threat to the safety and security of others, just to their possessions. And then he made his big mistake. He was apprehended through a sting operation. Selling an undercover police officer two hunting rifles. He was arrested, incarcerated, and while awaiting trial received a letter about his hearing with the Immigration Board.

His parents are understandably distraught. Admitting their son made far too many discretionary errors. Basically faulting the wrong crowd their son tended to move within. Themselves hard working simple people, they set an example their son rejected. They're concerned he is being sent to a country completely foreign to him. They had worked as household staff to the Indian High commission; as such their son was ineligible for instant citizenship though born in Ottawa.

Although the federal government has not divulged their reasons - supposing there are any - for focusing on removing this man from Ottawa, it seems a somewhat heartless decision. On the other hand, the country has more than enough problems with illegal gun possession, and there has to be some meaningful effort to ensure that bit by bit, the sources for illegal gun sales get shut down.

Deepan Budlakoti foolishly finessed himself out of a future in Canada, into exile in India. Where his obvious entrepreneurial spirit will benefit both himself and his new country. Where just about everyone speaks English, and he will experience few problems in making a life for himself. In the greatest democracy in the world.