Former Derg Informant Granted New Chance to Remain in Canada After Court Review
A Toronto Federal Court judge has ordered a new immigration review for Mesresha Zewide, a former informant for Ethiopia’s Derg regime, allowing him another opportunity to obtain permanent residency in Canada.
Mesresha Zewide arrived in Canada as a refugee 22 years ago after escaping a month of detention in Ethiopia, where he had been conscripted at age 17 to inform on opposition members for the Derg military junta. In 2017 officials declared him inadmissible for participation in crimes against humanity and ordered his removal. Zewide applied for a humanitarian and compassionate exemption, emphasizing his clean record since 2004, his family circumstances, and the psychological toll of his provisional status.
A senior IRCC officer rejected the request, claiming insufficient remorse and potential future citizenship issues. Justice John Norris ruled that the officer’s reasoning was speculative and that Zewide’s youthful, coerced involvement should mitigate the inadmissibility finding, ordering a fresh assessment by another decision-maker. The judge also noted that Zewide has never defended his past actions and accepts their wrongdoing, contrary to the officer’s characterization.
Why it matters
The ruling highlights how Canadian courts scrutinize immigration decisions involving alleged human-rights violations and the importance of accurate factual assessment.
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