An Okotoks family is facing losing one of their own to deportation.

Laszlo and Viktoria Radi have raised Viktoria's sister Kitti Toris as their daughter for the past 10 years. They are the 16-year-old Holy Trinity students' legal guardians. But now, she faces deportation, after her study permit and request for stay have both been denied.

The family is at a loss for what their next steps are.

"We don't know what to do. She doesn't have anywhere to go," Laszlo said. "We can put her on a plane, but who is going to wait for her (in Hungary)?"

Kitti has been in Canada for three years now, and her mother is estranged from the Radis. Laszlo says she has become like a daughter to them. Adoption could take 6-7 years, and cost between $10-20,000.

The family found out about the possible deportation earlier this week, when Kitty's application for temporary residence status and study permit were both denied. The family doesn't even know why her applications were denied.

The family is now looking into alternative options to avoid deportation, but they're left with many questions. They've contacted the offices of John Barlow, and have meetings with lawyers later this week, and are now waiting for more information.

"We don't understand why, because her family is here and she wants to stay with us."

The story is all too familiar for Laszlo, who moved to Vancouver in 1986 during the Communist era in Hungary. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, he received a letter from immigration that he could return, but he didn't want to leave. Laszlo's lawyer went to the Vancouver Sun, and he received so much public support that he was able to stay.

"It happened to me once, but I never wanted it to happen again. Here we are again in the same situation."

 

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