Isabel arrived in Canada two years ago and made a refugee claim that was rejected. She recently got married to a Canadian man but he has not yet sponsored her immigration. Isabel tells the lawyer she is pregnant but having relationship troubles with her husband, who has been coming home drunk and leaves bruises on her arms. She fears her husband will withdraw his promise to sponsor her immigration. Rose fled to Canada ten years ago after being raped in her home country. She remains in Canada without status after her refugee claim was rejected. Rose lives with a man who has physically and psychologically abused her for eight years and threatens to withdraw his promise to sponsor her immigration. Rose was recently charged with assault after confronting her partner about plans

1. Scenario #1:
Isabel arrives in your office, very upset and crying. She was called in by the Canadian
Border Services Agency and they are starting the process to deport her. She made a
refugee claim a couple of years ago but it was rejected. She got married to a Canadian
man eight months ago. Isabel tells you she is pregnant. Her husband promised to
sponsor her but he hasn’t done it yet. Isabel tells you they had some troubles but it is her
fault. She hasn’t been herself during the pregnancy. She has been sick a lot and very
tired. They did not plan to have a baby so soon and her husband is angry with her for
getting pregnant. He is having trouble finding a job and they do not have enough money.
She thinks her husband will change when the baby is born. She believes he still loves her
and still wants to sponsor her. You notice some bruises on her arms. Isabel tells you he
comes home drunk but is not ready to tell you anything more.
What should you do?

2. Scenario #2
Rose has been coming to see you for several months now. She arrived in Canada 10
years ago with her son who is now a teenager. Rose fled to Canada to make a refugee
claim after being gang raped by the police. She could only bring one child with her and
decided to leave her daughter behind with her mother. Rose thought she would be able to
send for her daughter soon after arriving in Canada but her refugee claim was rejected.
Rose met Fred in Canada and they have been living together for about eight years. They
had a religious marriage but could not register it because Fred is still married to someone
else. Fred sponsored Rose after living together for about two years. However, he has
been abusing her physically and psychologically ever since. Rose’s sponsorship is still in
process but Ali keeps threatening to withdraw it. They have four Canadian born children.
Today, Rose tells you she was charged with assaulting Fred. Rose was upset after being
told by a woman that Fred was planning to leave Rose for her. Rose couldn’t believe it
and went to Fred’s work to confront him. The woman showed up as well.
Rose tells you that she was hysterical and cried and screamed at Fred that she was the
wife and he should think of their children. The screwdriver that Ali always used to beat
Rose fell out of his pocket. Rose picked it up and hit him with it. By this time a crowd
had gathered and someone called the police. Rose was charged with assault with a
weapon.
How can you help Rose?