Canada to Deport Former Refugee Roman Slepcsik

The Canadian government is proceeding with the deportation of Roman Slepcsik, a 58-year-old former refugee who has lived in Canada since 1997. Slepcsik originally fled violence against Roma minorities in the Czech Republic, receiving protected-person status in 1998 and permanent residency in 1999.

The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada stripped Slepcsik of his status after he made several trips to the Czech Republic, including a 2020 visit to care for a dying brother. The board concluded he no longer required Canadian protection, triggering a 2012 law that ties permanent residency to the maintenance of protected-person status.

Slepcsik launched a constitutional challenge against the law, which the Federal Court of Canada dismissed in November. While the court acknowledged the case involves a legal issue of general importance that could potentially overturn the law on Charter rights grounds during an appeal, it recently denied Slepcsik's request to pause his removal. Justice Vanessa Rochester dismissed the request, stating the court's role is not to alleviate tragedy. Slepcsik's co-counsel, Barbara Jackman, argued that the deportation breaches a human right before the court can determine a remedy.