Chair Andrew Pringle

Mayor John Tory

Dhun Noria
Marie Moliner
Councillor Chin Lee
Councillor Shelley Carroll

Dear Toronto Police Services Board,

The Latin American community of Toronto is saddened, upset but not surprised to read the
recent report, Often Asking Always Telling, which shows concrete evidence the Toronto Police
Services (TPS) continues to violate City of Torontos Sanctuary City policy through the following
instances:
TPS is responsible for 31% of all calls made by law enforcement and transit agencies
across the country (including RCMP) to the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA)
83% of all calls were for a Status Check where TPS may inquire about a persons status
because they have suspicion a subject may not have legal status in Canada
From November 4, 2014 to October 16, 2015, TPS has called CBSA 4254 times to
conduct this Status Check based solely on suspicion
Anecdotal evidence that highlights the discrepancy between TPS policies and officer
practices
People with precarious immigration status are vital members of our Latin American
communities. They are our co-workers, neighbours, and our loved ones. We refuse to live in a
city where community services are not accessible to all residents. Where we are constantly
being racially profiled because our accent and the colour our skin gives the TPS suspicion a
subject may not have legal status in Canada resulting in arbitrary status checks. Acts such as
this, further deteriorates the trust between all city residents and the police resulting in unsafe
communities, impunity and less cooperation from the public.
Our community is uniting on this issue. We are urging you to not do the work of CBSA. Your
duty and service is to the people of Toronto and we are asking you to do that. We are
demanding you work with the City of Toronto to develop a Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy that
contributes to ensure our Sanctuary City. Stop racially profiling our community by conducting
these status checks.
Sincerely,

Latin American Education Network

MUJER
Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network
Centre for Integrative Antiracism Studies University of Toronto, OISE, Social Justice Education
Department
Colombian Action Solidarity Alliance
Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network
Latin American Queer Education Project
LatinXVote
Sick Muse Arts
Derik Chica Secondary Teacher
Jacky Samaniego University Student (Nutrition and Food)
Maria Wong Non-Profit and Education Specialist
Juan Carranza Cisneros, LLB, MBA Lawyer
Paloma E. Villegas, PhD Lecturer, University of Toronto, Scarborough
Ximena Martinez PhD Student, Department of Social Justice Education, CIARS Coordinator
William Flores Community Activist
Mireya Arrechea Fong Working Women Community Centre
Marco Castillo Automobile Repair man
Alejandro Mayoral Banos Master Student at York University
Dr. Francisco Villegas Lecturer, University of Toronto Scarborough
Samay Arcentales Student
Benjamin Santamaria Ochoa Author, Yoga Instructor, Community Worker, Defender of
Childrens Rights
Juan Arellano Concerned Citizen
Ana Teresa Portillo PhD Candidate, York University
Katrin Kocsis University of Toronto Student, Transcriptionist
Ana Leticia Ibarra Research Coordinator

Cristina Ibarra Early Childhood Assistant

Bethan Fisk Doctoral Candidate and Research Assistant
Sonia Hernandez Community Worker
Denise Martins Executive Assistant, University of Ontario Institute of Technology Faculty
Association
Oscar Aguilar - PhD Student, University of Toronto
Raul Burbano Program Director
Alejandra Bravo Resident
Dayana Gonzalez - Undergraduate student, Law & Society at York University
Aldeli Albn Reyna MUJER Board Member
Tania Hernandez-Cervantes PhD Student York University
Luz Maria Vazquez York University
Paola Gomez Writer, Women Rights Defender & Community Organizer