Tamarri Lindo, a promising 20-year-old sprint hurdler at York University in Toronto, harbors dreams of representing Canada at the Olympic Games. However, his aspirations are now under threat as Canadian immigration officials have denied his family’s asylum claim and issued a deportation order back to Jamaica.
According to a report by CTV News Toronto, Lindo arrived in Canada with his father, George, in 2019. George Lindo, who worked for the opposition party in Jamaica, reportedly faced multiple assassination attempts, including a brutal attack where his neck was slashed. Seeking political asylum, the Lindo family fled to Canada, hoping for safety and a chance to rebuild their lives.
However, their asylum claim was denied. Immigration Canada concluded that the assaults George Lindo endured were not politically motivated but were part of the general crime landscape in Jamaica. The official statement to Lindo’s lawyers read, “Crime, including murder, is widespread throughout Jamaica, and any risk they face is not personalized but shared generally by all persons living in Jamaica.”
Tamarri Lindo has thrived academically and athletically at York University
Despite these setbacks, Tamarri Lindo has thrived academically and athletically at York University. Recently completing his first year in the Health Studies program, Lindo was named MVP of the university’s men’s track team for the 2024 season. He secured a bronze medal in the men’s 60m hurdles at the Canadian U Sports Championships in March and boasts a personal best of 14.27 seconds in the 110m hurdles, only one second shy of the 2024 Olympic standard of 13.27 seconds.
Now, with Canada Border Services agents having booked his return flights to Jamaica, Lindo’s dream of competing at the Bell Canadian Olympic Trials in late June is in jeopardy. The family is set for deportation the week of May 20.
“I fear for my children; I cannot protect them if we go back to Jamaica,” George Lindo expressed to CTV News, highlighting the perilous situation they face. Lindo’s immigration lawyer is currently working to file a judicial review, but time is rapidly running out.
