WINNIPEG – A Somali refugee deemed by a federal judge to be too dangerous to stay in Canada and slated for deportation has been released in Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Sun has learned.

Mohamed Said Jama was supposed to be deported to Somalia last year after losing a lengthy court battle to block his deportation.

But Jama — who was convicted of assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and robbery — never made it to Somalia and was turned back to Canada because of concerns for his safety. He was detained for several months in Winnipeg but quietly released by Canada Border Services officials last month after an immigration and refugee board hearing deemed him safe to return to the community.

Jama was involved in a home invasion in 2004 when he stabbed a man in the face. Court documents show he had threatened jail guards while behind bars and promoted gang activity.

Border officials decided to deport Jama in December 2008. After numerous attempts to block the deportation, Jama was put on a plane and sent to Nairobi, Kenya, where he was scheduled to eventually travel to Bosaso, Somalia.

But according to transcripts from a November 2009 immigration and refugee board hearing, the company hired to charter a plane to Somalia cancelled the flight to Bosaso because they could not guarantee Jama’s safety.

As a result, Canada Border Services returned Jama to Winnipeg and he was detained at Headingley Jail.

A few months later, at a February 2010 hearing, Jama was found to be a low-risk to re-offend and released.

Technically, Jama is still facing deportation. But no date has been set for the transfer and no specific arrangements have been made for his removal.

Meanwhile, Jama is free in Winnipeg and believed to be attending Red River College, according to his last hearing.

And he’s under very few restrictions, including having to meet with parole officials only once a month.

“Based on the low degree of risk that I assess exists in this case I don’t believe that restrictive conditions are necessary,” ruled immigration and refugee board member Leeann King.

King disagreed with previous assessments of Jama which painted him as a high-risk, repeat violent offender. Instead, she ruled Jama is a suitable candidate for rehabilitation.

According to hearing transcripts, King said she was satisfied Jama has learned from his mistakes and now realizes what was driving him to commit violent crimes.

“You explain that you — it was your poor attitude, your unresolved anger and your lack of coping skills that led you to be committing these crimes,” King said. “You had indicated in other writing what led you to this attitude was your resentment and your focusing on the fact that you are a man of colour, you are a minority.”

But now that he has corrected that, he’s on his way to rehabilitating himself, said King.

You gotta be kidding.

A federal judge and previous assessments say this guy is so dangerous he should be deported to Somalia and this board member just lets him out?

There are so many problems with this story, it’s hard to even know where to start.

First of all, why are we allowing a charter company to make decisions on whether Jama will be safe in Somalia? He won’t be safe there, so Canadians should have their public safety put at risk? What are we, a dumping ground for violent refugee criminals?

And then this board member — who’s from British Columbia, by the way — lets the guy out in Winnipeg with almost no restrictions. Unbelievable.

So now we can’t deport dangerous, refugee criminals to their homeland if some plane company deems the transfer “unsafe” for the offender?

I think the government of Canada has some explaining to do here.

A timeline of Mohamed Said Jama’s time in Canada

* 1991 — Arrives in Canada and is granted refugee status. Never gains permanent residency.

* 2004 –Jama is involved in a violent home invasion and is convicted of stabbing a man in the face. Jama had several previous criminal convictions and had gang ties.

* June 2007 — Border officials begin proceedings to deport Jama.

* December 2008– Decision made to deport.

* Oct. 14, 2009 — Federal judge upholds deportation order after lengthy legal battle.

* Oct. 21, 2009 — Jama flies with escorts to Nairobi, Kenya and is scheduled to fly to Bosaso, Somalia.

* Oct. 25, 2009 — After several delays, flight to Somalia is cancelled due to safety concerns for Jama. He is returned to Winnipeg and held at Headingley Jail.

* Feb. 5, 2010 — After several hearings, an immigration and refugee board member releases Jama, ruling he’s not a threat to society.

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CNews

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