Tamarri Lindo, a 20-year-old sprint hurdler at York University in Toronto, aspires to one day compete for Canada at the Olympic Games. However, his days in the country are now numbered after Canadian immigration officials denied his family asylum and issued a deportation order back to Jamaica.
According to a Toronto CTV News report, Lindo arrived in Canada with his father, George, in 2019. George worked for the opposition party in Jamaica and allegedly faced multiple assassination attempts, even having his neck slashed.
York University Track Athlete Tamarri Lindo Along with his Family “Expected to be Deported Next Week, Facing Death” – (@AidenSimardone) pic.twitter.com/gbMcD42XSJ
— Get Yorked (@realgetyorked) May 16, 2024
The Lindo family sought political asylum in Canada, but their claim was denied on the basis that the assaults were not related to George’s political affiliation. Immigration Canada told Lindo’s lawyers, “Crime, including murder, is widespread throughout Jamaica, and any risk they face is not personalized but shared generally by all persons living in Jamaica.”
Lindo recently completed his first year at York University in the Health Studies program and was named MVP of the school’s men’s track team for the 2024 season. He won a Canadian U Sports bronze medal in the men’s 60m hurdles event in March and has a personal best of 14.27 seconds outdoors over the 110m hurdles, just one second behind the 2024 Olympic standard of 13.27 seconds.
My client George Anthony Lindo, along with his family—which includes potential Paris 2024 Olympian Tamarri Lindo—are expected to be deported next week, facing death
They are running out of time. If you are upset just like me, contact your MPhttps://t.co/XZWFrU83Wr
— Aidan Simardone (@AidanSimardone) May 15, 2024
Canada Border Service agents have booked Lindo’s return flights to Jamaica, and the family is set for deportation the week of May 20, stopping Lindo’s dream of competing at the Bell Canadian Olympic Trials in late June.
“I fear for my children; I cannot protect them if we go back to Jamaica,” Lindo’s father said to CTV News. Lindo’s immigration lawyer is in the process of filing a judicial review, but time is running out.
