American Family Faces Deportation from Canada After 15 Years of Settlement

(CANADA) An American family living in Canada for 15 years is now under a deportation order with a hard deadline to leave the country in less than a week. The Figg family, longtime residents of Quebec, were told to depart by September 8, 2025 after their work visa expired and officials found they no longer had valid status. Their case has sparked intense debate about how recent policy shifts are affecting people who have built their lives in Canada 🇨🇦 but lack permanent status.

For the Figgs, who came from the United States 🇺🇸 and raised children in French-language schools, the order threatens to uproot them from the only community their kids truly know.

What happened to the Figg family

The family says the order followed a routine border crossing. After returning from a short trip to the U.S., they were stopped by Canadian border officers and informed they had two weeks to leave.

They say officers told them to sell their belongings and warned they might not be allowed back. The immediacy of the deadline surprised them, especially given how long they have lived in the province and the ties they have formed.

The timeline added pressure to an already painful reality: uprooting teenagers from school just as the year begins and leaving jobs, friends, and a sense of home.

Visa lapse, expectations, and enforcement

At the center is an expired work visa and the family’s belief that a 90-day grace period would allow them to file and remain in status. That understanding was once a practical rule of thumb for many temporary residents who missed a renewal deadline.

However, recent enforcement patterns and tighter rules for temporary residents have left far less room for error. In this case, the family’s expectation of a grace window did not protect them. Officers issued the deportation order, prompting a scramble for legal options before removal.

Attempts at permanent residency

Over the years, the Figgs tried to secure permanent residency more than once but fell short. Their situation is not uncommon:

• Employer-backed status, study permits, and changing program criteria can derail long-term plans.
• Points thresholds and regional priorities shift, and applications that might have succeeded years ago may no longer meet current requirements.
• Repeated attempts—even over a decade—do not guarantee a stable outcome.

For long-term residents who have put down deep roots, it can feel like the ground moved under their feet.

Family and community ties in Quebec

The Figgs settled in Quebec in 2017. Their children speak French, attend local schools, and participate in neighborhood life. Teachers and neighbors have expressed worry about the effect of removal on the kids, especially 15-year-old Stella Figg, who says she barely remembers living anywhere else.

For a teenager whose identity was formed in Canada, leaving can feel less like returning to a home country and more like being sent to a foreign place. That human cost is why these cases resonate beyond legal technicalities.

Policy context: the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan

In October 2024, the government introduced the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan. Key points:

• Annual target for new permanent residents lowered to 395,000 in 2025, down from 500,000 the previous year.
• A cap to reduce temporary residents (work permit holders and international students) to 5% of the national population by the end of 2026.

Implications:

• Fewer spaces and stricter controls mean families relying on renewals, bridging status, or employer sponsorship face tougher odds.
• Those whose status expired before finding a permanent path are particularly vulnerable.

Enforcement and legal process

Enforcement has tightened. The Canada Border Services Agency has stepped up removals, emphasizing compliance and timely departures for people without status.

Typical process when someone is found inadmissible:

1. A section 44 report is filed under immigration law.
2. That can lead to an admissibility hearing.
3. If upheld, a removal order is issued.

For the Figgs, the process moved quickly after officers confirmed the visa lapse. There are legal routes to seek a stay or appeal, but time is short and requests must demonstrate strong reasons, including hardship to children.

Important: Time-sensitive legal steps require quick, well-documented filings. Missing deadlines can close doors.

Increased return fees after removal

As of April 2025, return fees following removal have risen substantially:

• $12,800 for an escorted removal
• $3,800 for an unescorted removal

This is a large jump from the previous $1,500 charge. The change aims to recover more government costs, but for families these figures are daunting and can become major barriers if they seek to return later.

Humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) applications

Lawyers say the humanitarian route may be the family’s best chance. An H&C application asks decision-makers to weigh:

• Long residence
• Deep community ties
• Best interests of the children (language skills, school records, medical needs, stability)

Notes on H&C:

• Not a fast fix and never guaranteed.
• Designed for mixed human/legal situations that don’t fit points grids.
• Advocates stress filing quickly and with strong evidence (schools, community leaders, employers).

How policy tightening meets lived reality

Analysis (e.g., VisaVerge.com) suggests high-profile cases surface when policy tightening collides with everyday life:

• Priorities to manage housing and services reduce overall intake.
• A single lapse—missed renewal, lost employer sponsor, or border exit—can trigger removal even after many years.
• Small procedural details can compound into a crisis.

Example chain in the Figgs’ case:
missed renewal date → family trip across border → officer review → short window to leave.

Community support and evidence

Community support in Quebec has been strong. Documents that can help H&C filings include:

• Letters from teachers, coaches, faith leaders
• School records and report cards
• Community involvement certificates
• Employer letters confirming work history and contributions

Officials are directed to give special weight to the best interests of a child, and strong community files can make a difference.

Policy impacts on temporary residents and families

Policy measures aimed at balancing economic needs with housing/service capacity include:

• Caps on temporary residents to reach sustainable levels by late 2026
• Tighter rules for some work permits
• Moratorium on low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessments in high-unemployment areas

Consequences for families:

• Reduced flow of new temporary workers and higher renewal standards
• Blocked pathways for those who fell out of status during the pandemic or amid job changes
• For the Figgs, long-term life in Canada but no valid bridge to permanence

Practical steps and process reminders

Typical process and options for those under removal threat:

• Notification of inadmissibility (section 44 report)
• Possible admissibility hearing (Minister’s Delegate or Immigration and Refugee Board)
• If removal issued, must leave by set date
• Right to ask for a stay of removal—and sometimes to appeal—especially with strong humanitarian factors

Practical steps families should take:

• Keep permits valid and file renewals early
• If a permit expires, apply to restore status as soon as possible
• Avoid leaving and re-entering Canada during a lapse in status
• Consult a licensed immigration lawyer or consultant
• Gather documents showing school ties, community involvement, medical needs

Financial and emotional costs

Financial considerations:

• High return fees after removal multiply for families
• Additional costs: applications, legal fees, travel, new housing, loss of credit history, pension interruption, health coverage gap

Emotional costs:

• Children risk losing academic progress, social networks, and language continuity
• Teens face the upheaval of leaving friends, teachers, and familiar routines mid-year

Evidence such as report cards and counselor letters can help decision-makers evaluate these harms.

Quebec-specific considerations

Quebec has unique selection agreements and strong language expectations. Families integrated into French schools may view that as proof of belonging, and local leaders argue long-term French-speaking residents should have stronger avenues to stay.

Whether policy will adapt is uncertain, but these dynamics explain why cases like the Figgs’ draw extra attention in the province.

Possible next steps for the Figgs

Likely actions include:

1. Seek a stay of removal while filing an H&C application emphasizing:
   • Children’s best interests
   • Long residence in Canada (since 2010) and Quebec ties since 2017
   • Letters from teachers, community leaders, and employers; proof of language ability; school records
2. If a stay is granted: remain while application is assessed
3. If not: depart and apply from abroad (harder due to new controls and high return fees)

Role of employers, schools, and community

How these groups can help:

• Employers: letters confirming work history and community contribution
• Schools: document language progress, extracurricular leadership, support networks
• Community leaders: confirm longtime involvement (volunteering, coaching, faith activities)

These records tell the story of a family’s life in Canada and can tip decisions in close cases.

Final context and guidance

Officials stress that due process applies and people facing removal have the right to present evidence of hardship. But the enforcement posture is clear: expired status with no valid pending application can lead to rapid removal.

For authoritative information, visit Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Immediate checklist for families in similar situations

• Gather identification, school records, proof of community involvement, and medical documents.
• Seek legal help immediately to assess stay of removal and H&C filing prospects.
• Track deadlines closely; do not miss interviews or check-ins with officers.
• If departure seems likely, plan schooling and housing to reduce disruption for children.

Closing observations

The Figg family’s case captures the tension between a rules-based immigration system and the human realities inside thousands of homes across Canada. With September 8, 2025 approaching, each day matters: a stay application requires quick, organized work and strong proof. Without it, the family must prepare to leave while grappling with the emotional and financial fallout of forced departure.

Neighbors, teachers, and community members continue to rally around the family—highlighting how long-term residence, language integration, and community ties complicate the practical and moral questions that policymakers will continue to face.