Federal authorities cancelled Halima Abdi’s removal from Canada just hours before she was set to depart Edmonton International Airport on September 10th. The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) stayed the removal order after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada approved her application for permanent residency on humanitarian grounds. Supporters had gathered in protest outside the CBSA building as Abdi’s lawyer and advocates wrote emails to federal officials, leading to a last-minute reversal that allowed her to stay with her three children in Edmonton.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Halima Abdi, a mother from Edmonton, Canada, faced deportation back to Kenya earlier this month. On September 4th, CBSA officials detained Abdi at Edmonton's airport just hours before she was scheduled to board her flight to Kenya. After a decade-long struggle to remain in Canada, Abdi’s removal order was set for just six days later.
Abdi’s children were devastated by the news and pleaded with their mother not to leave them. Over the following 72 hours, immigration authorities approved Abdi's application for permanent residency on humanitarian grounds. As a result, federal officials canceled her removal from Canada shortly before she was due to depart.
Written for “Mom Deportation Cancelled Last Minute” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
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Federal authorities cancel Edmonton mom's removal from Canada hours before she boards plane
left frames the cancellation as a positive outcome
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What unfolded over the next 72 hours, according to Abdi, was nothing short of a miracle.
left describes the reversal as miraculous and positive
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Supporters gathered in protest outside of the downtown Edmonton CBSA building on Sept. 4 as Abdi's lawyer and advocates wrote emails to the federal public safety minister.
left highlights support for Abdi and opposition to removal
Leaning score -0.35 for article 13972 (medium confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-16
Federal authorities cancel Edmonton mom's removal from Canada hours before she boards plane
asserted
she → cancel → plane
CBSA says it stayed removal order pending outcome of woman’s application for permanent residence
Calling
asserted
it → say → residence
while being detained by officials near Edmonton's airport earlier this month, Halima Abdi tried to comfort her three little boys huddled in the back seat of her sister’s vehicle outside a Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) office.
asserted
Abdi → detain → office
Earlier that day, Sept. 4, authorities unexpectedly detained Abdi, who went into the CBSA building in downtown Edmonton for her weekly check-in.
asserted
who → detain → in
After a decade-long battle to stay in Canada, Abdi's removal was just six days away.
asserted
removal → stay → Canada
"Why did you leave us, Mommy?,” her eldest — seven years old — asked, putting a protective arm around his sibling.
asserted
eldest → leave → sibling
"Mommy, come back," her youngest pleaded.
asserted
youngest → come → ?
What unfolded over the next 72 hours, according to Abdi, was nothing short of a miracle.
uncertain
unfolded → unfold → miracle
On the same day she was supposed to fly back to Kenya, immigration authorities approved — in principle — Abdi's application for permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
asserted
authorities → suppose → grounds
In an interview with CBC News on Tuesday, Abdi tried to find the words to thank dozens of her supporters who have stood by her for nearly a decade.
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who → try → decade
“I don't know how to express my gratitude to everybody," she said.
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she → know → everybody
"I will just pray for them.”
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I → pray → them
Abdi's bid to start a new life in Canada began in February 2017 when she flew from Kenya to the United States and walked across the northern border.
asserted
she → start → border
Canadian immigration authorities at the time rejected Abdi’s claim that she was a target in Kenya because of her Somali ethnicity.
uncertain
she → reject → ethnicity
Two unpalatable options remained: surrender her children to be raised by the Alberta government, or bring them with her to Kenya.
asserted
options → remain → Kenya
Supporters gathered in protest outside of the downtown Edmonton CBSA building on Sept. 4 as Abdi's lawyer and advocates wrote emails to the federal public safety minister.
asserted
lawyer → gather → minister
More than 1,000 people signed a petition asking immigration authorities to reconsider.
asserted
people → sign → authorities
In the meantime, officials flew Abdi to a detention centre in B.C. and then back to Edmonton.
asserted
officials → fly → Edmonton
She was finally released from custody on Sept. 10 at Edmonton International Airport and into the arms of relieved family members.
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She → release → members
In an email to CBC News, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said Abdi’s August 2024 application for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds passed the eligibility requirements on Sept. 9.
asserted
application → say → Sept.
The CBSA said it received confirmation from the IRCC on Sept. 10 and stayed the removal order pending the outcome of her application for permanent residence, which involves further medical and security checks.
asserted
which → say → checks
Now, as Abdi cherishes the daily moments with her kids, she is also daring to dream about what a future career in Canada might look like, either in policing, the military or in medicine.
“When I think back, I'm like, ‘Girl, you're so strong.
uncertain
you → cherish → medicine
If this did not break you, nothing's going to break you,'” Abdi said.
asserted
Abdi → break → you
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