A total of seven Hastings Racecourse workers caught during a mass arrest this week are expected in immigration hearings scheduled for Wednesday.
The seven workers will undergo admissibility hearings, which determine whether the individual is inadmissible to Canada and whether their detention will continue.
The seven workers include:
• CRUZ VILLEGAS, Adan
• OLADE ANGEL, Javier
• CARRION GOMEZ, Brandon Daniel
• NAVARRO CARAVANTES, Oscar Miguel
• BEDOLLA OROZCO, Juan Daniel
• TAPIA FERNANDEZ, Oscar David
• GONZALEZ VAZQUEZ, Jose De Jesus
The hearings are conducted by the immigration division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and are required to take place within 48 hours of the start of an individual’s detention, according to an email from IRB spokeswoman Line-Alice Guibert-Wolff.
Canada Border Services Agency conducted an early morning raid on Monday at the east Vancouver racecourse, arresting up to 26 backstretch workers.
By law, foreigners with specific track jobs in B.C. are exempt from the usual work-permit process if they have the proper credentials to be licensed, have a contract offer from a horse owner, and the term of employment is limited to the racing season.
Lawyers who spoke to Postmedia suggest that CBSA conducted the arrest with specific individuals in mind. The CBSA has not shared any information at this time about specific individuals arrested.
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