Nigerian migrant rights advocate Olukunle Adetunji is facing deportation from Canada after years of efforts to regularise his immigration status, raising concerns about the personal and family consequences of his prolonged struggle to remain in the country.
Adetunji, who has been involved in migrant rights advocacy, reportedly faces removal to Nigeria despite previous attempts to secure permission to stay in Canada on compassionate grounds.
His case has drawn attention because of the length of time he has spent navigating Canada’s immigration system and the family ties he has established during his stay.
According to reports, Adetunji first travelled to Canada in 2012 and later returned to Nigeria after being deported in 2014. He reportedly went back to Canada in 2016 and subsequently sought to regularise his status.
His efforts to remain in the country included an application based on compassionate considerations, but Canadian immigration authorities later detained him before releasing him while his situation remained unresolved.
Adetunji has said that being separated from his family would be devastating, particularly because of his relationship with his three sons.
He has also expressed concern about returning to Nigeria, saying he no longer has meaningful family ties or a settled place to live there.
His reported circumstances illustrate the difficult choices that can arise when immigration enforcement intersects with family life, long-term residence and humanitarian considerations.
Canada has established legal procedures for removing foreign nationals who are not authorised to remain in the country. Applications for permission to stay on humanitarian or compassionate grounds are assessed under the applicable immigration framework and do not automatically guarantee a person the right to remain.
The outcome of Adetunji’s case will depend on the relevant immigration decisions and any legal avenues available to him. The full details of his current legal status and the timing of his proposed removal would need to be confirmed by the authorities or his representatives.
The case also highlights the wider challenges faced by migrants attempting to resolve their immigration status after years of residence abroad, particularly when they have established families and community connections.
For Adetunji, the immediate concern is the prospect of separation from his children and the uncertainty surrounding his future.