Montreal’s Sudanese Community Pushes for Family Reunification Amid Immigration Barriers

The ongoing war in Sudan has displaced millions, leaving many families separated and struggling to reunite. In Montreal, members of the Sudanese community are leading efforts to support refugees and advocate for systemic change. In this interview, CUTV speaks with Mayada Ageeb and Salwa Saied of the Sudanese Canadian Association of Quebec (SCAQC) about their fight for family reunification amid restrictive immigration policies.

Since its inception, the SCAQC has worked to improve policies that would allow Sudanese families to reunite safely in Canada. However, stringent immigration policies—particularly within Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)—have made the process challenging.

Despite Montreal being home to a significant Sudanese population, Quebec has yet to fully participate in the federal resettlement program, creating an additional hurdle. The IRCC’s cap of 1,700 applications for Sudanese refugees, along with financial and documentation barriers, has left many families in limbo. Some community members are even considering leaving Montreal and Quebec in search of better support. Mayada, for example, is contemplating a move to Ontario to help her family settle and adjust to a new environment.

Through grassroots advocacy, public demonstrations, and fundraising efforts, the SCAQC is pushing for Quebec to take a more active role in refugee resettlement. The organization has also criticized the government for its lack of tangible support, citing the absence of assistance in areas such as food security, housing, and financial stability. As Mayada and Salwa stress in the interview, government support should empower families to reunite and rebuild their lives together, on their own terms.

They also highlight the limited media coverage of the crisis, emphasizing that ongoing protests and intercommunity solidarity are vital in raising awareness. Despite facing erasure and invisibility, the SCAQC remains steadfast in its call for policymakers to remove barriers to family reunification and expand the IRCC program. Their goal is to ensure that Sudanese refugees can reunite with their loved ones—not only in Canada but also in Quebec and Montreal—without having to navigate these challenges alone.