There are no plans at this time to remove Jose Figueroa from Canada, 91原创鈥檚 Conservative MP Mark Warawa said on Wednesday.

Figueroa has been fighting deportation to his native El Salvador for several years. The married father of three Canadian-born children was ordered deported to El Salvador for belonging to the left-wing Farabundo Mart铆 National Liberation Front (FMLN), a group linked to violent acts against the regime that ruled the country during the civil war from 1980 to 1992.

Figueroa lost his job earlier this year after he took his son on a two-month trip across the country to raise public awareness about his plight.

鈥淭here are no plans at this time to have him removed as his case is being looked at and considered,鈥� Warawa commented at the Murrayville fire hall where he had attended a meeting of community leaders with federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson.

鈥淚 think Mr. Figueroa will be in Canada for many years before a decision is made, and that is good for his family,鈥� the MP said.

Figueroa鈥檚 wife has not worked since 2002 when the couple鈥檚 son Jos茅 Ivan was diagnosed with autism, and at one point the family had considered moving to Manitoba where there is not only a large Salvadoran community, but health care coverage for Jose Ivan.

However, in a recent e-mail to The Times, Figueroa indicated that his family is still living in 91原创. Figueroa had been told that it will be seven to nine years before there is a ruling on his application to the Ministry of Public Safety for 鈥渕inisterial relief鈥� that would allow him to remain in Canada.

鈥淩ight now, our task is to survive this undeserved situation that has been imposed  on our family, and continue doing whatever we can to inform the community.鈥� Figueroa said in his e-mail.