Refugees who lost fingers in winter border-crossing become Canadian citizens

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This article was published 20/03/2023 (947 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two refugees from Ghana, who lost their fingers to frostbite after walking across the U.S.-Canada border into Manitoba in 2016, have become full Canadian citizens.

“I was screaming in my room,” Razak Iyal, 39, said Monday, recalling the moment earlier this month when the message popped up on his computer screen that he had successfully passed the citizenship exam.

“I was screaming by myself. I think my neighbours were wondering what’s up with this guy — but this means everything to be Canadian.”

Iyal and Seidu Mohammed are both from Ghana, but didn’t know each other before meeting in Minneapolis in December 2016.

Iyal had left Ghana after an inheritance battle with his brothers, which left him hospitalized. Mohammed was in Brazil, trying out for professional soccer teams, when he was caught in bed with a man. If he returned to Ghana, where homosexuality is illegal, he could have been put in prison.

Seeking sanctuary in Canada, the pair split the cost of a cab to take them near the Manitoba border from Minneapolis. Wearing clothing not suitable for the weather, they crossed the border in the snow and cold.

Both men lost all of their fingers due to frostbite (except Iyal’s right thumb).

The two men were granted refugee status, with the decision for Iyal mainly because media at the time made a mistake, saying both were gay. Iyal is married and his wife is in Ghana; he was granted asylum because the error may have still landed him in prison if sent back to Ghana.

Iyal said it took him two attempts to pass the citizenship test (minimum 15 correct answers out of 20).

For Mohammed, 30, once was the charm.

“I got 19 out of 20 — I have no idea which one I missed,” he said. “It was exciting when I passed… I was happy. It feels good.”

Mohammed, who is taking courses to upgrade his studies before seeking to enrol in university, said his all teachers and classmates congratulated him Monday.

“This is a new chapter for me,” he said. “We are Canadians now, and we are very grateful.”

Dorota Blumczynska was head of the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba when the two men crossed the border in waist-deep snow and sub-zero temperatures.

“I’m absolutely thrilled for them,” said Blumczynska, now chief executive officer of the Manitoba Museum. “I understand how important citizenship is, in terms of creating a sense of belonging and certainty as to one’s future and being able to rebuild and begin again.

“It’s regrettable the terrible circumstances they had to endure in order to find safety.”

Now that he is a citizen, Iyal said he is beginning the process of bringing his wife to Canada. She had a meeting Monday with Canadian officials in Africa.

“She is very happy for me,” he said. “After I got my (permanent resident), I was able to travel to visit her in the neighbouring country in 2021 and 2022. The last time, when I was leaving, she was very disturbed, but I said: I’m doing everything possible to bring you here to live here so we can have a better life here.”

Iyal said he will never take for granted his Canadian citizenship.

“I will always do what is right,” he said. “I will stay out of trouble. I will respect every law in Canada.

“And, while all of Canada is now my country, the people of Winnipeg and Manitoba are very wonderful people. I want to stay here. The people here helped me a lot,” he said.

“I’m very, very happy to be a Canadian and happy to be a Manitoban.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca