Dear editor:

As a Canadian citizen, a voter and a community organizer living in Niagara, I strongly support permanent resident status for undocumented people, also referred to as comprehensive regularization.

And so does everyone I know. To many Canadians, it’s clear that regularization is both fair and necessary.

I have had the honour of working alongside undocumented migrant workers for the last six years, including former farmworkers who escaped abusive employers and subsequently lost their immigration status.

Undocumented people face exploitation at work, mistreatment by landlords and separation from their families.

The only solution is to grant them permanent resident status so they can have the equal rights they deserve. This is why every major labour, health care, faith, climate and civil society group — more than 500 organizations — is supporting the call for regularization.

I was thrilled when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised regularization in December 2021. He must keep his promise of equality and regularization, not allow for migrants to be villainized. 

Friends, family, and neighbours I’ve spoken with all agree: this is a matter of justice and humanity.

Let’s move forward with compassion and common sense. It’s time for comprehensive regularization now.