Toronto track star faces deportation after national championships

A Toronto athlete who won bronze at Canada's national track and field championships a little over a week ago is set to be deported to Jamaica, where he says political persecution could put his family's lives at risk and a recovery effort is underway after a devastating hurricane. 

Tamarri Lindo and his family moved to Toronto when he was 15. He's now 20 and only recently won a national bronze medal in the 110-metre hurdles. Lindo completed high school in Toronto before joining York University.

His sister was also born in Toronto but the family will have to bring her to Jamaica because she's only five years old. 

The family fled Jamaica because it believed it was at risk for its political affiliations. Lindo's father had volunteered and helped campaign with the country's opposition, the People's National Party.  

But but with its refugee applications rejected, it will be forced to return to Jamaica on Wednesday — something Lindo said he learned while preparing for the biggest race of his season at the championship. 

"Before the race, I cried. After the race, I cried," Lindo said. "[In Jamaica] I could potentially even face death. You know, I'm scared of being shot at." 

His family's lawyer has submitted a judicial review, which is essentially an appeal of the decision. If it's successful, the Lindos could return to Canada. But their lawyer Aidan Simardone said it could be in a casket.

"I'm really serious about that," Simardone said. "The father continues to get threats because of his political activities. And now they're going back to an island that's devastated. And this is all being rushed."

Simardone said the family's original refugee application was denied because the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) was not