A Toronto personal support worker from Nigeria says indefinite delays to her refugee claim due to the COVID-19 pandemic have left her fearing for her family’s future.
Oluwafunmi (a pseudonym) has been working long hours as a personal support worker at several health care facilities in the Toronto area, she said, but uncertainty surrounding her refugee status is adding to an already stressful time. “It’s scary because you don’t know your fate,” said Oluwafunmi, who arrived in Canada in February 2018 with her two-year-old son to claim asylum.
Global News has agreed to withhold her identity due to security concerns and fears of repercussions from people in Nigeria. More than two years after entering the country, she continues to wait.