CANADA
A young Nicaraguan man who says he fears he will be killed in his home country because of his sexual orientation has gone into hiding in Toronto after his latest bid to stay in Canada failed.
Alvaro Orozco, 22, has been holed up at a friend’s place since Thursday, when his refugee claim was denied, but came out briefly over the weekend to speak to CBC News.
“Most of the time, I’m hiding because I’m not supposed to be anywhere. I feel like a fugitive. It’s really bad,” said Orozco.
His case made headlines in Canada and Nicaragua in February when the Immigration and Refugee Board denied him asylum saying they didn’t believe he was gay.
His lawyer filed a motion to reopen the refugee claim. Again, he was denied.
He based his refugee claim on the fact that it is against the law to be gay in Nicaragua, where an anti-sodomy law was enacted in 1992.
