Updated: Fri Jul. 04 2008 1:58:18 PM

ctvtoronto.ca

A Mexican mother of two living in Toronto is fighting for a reprieve of her deportation order, saying she won't be adequately protected from her abusive ex-husband in her homeland.

Isabel Garcia, 42, said she fled Mexico in November 2006 because she suffered a tremendous amount of physical and emotional abuse from her ex-husband. She alleges she even survived an attempted murder.

Garcia fears she will end up dead if she is deported back to Mexico. Her flight is scheduled for Monday.

"I'm here because I believe that I have the right to live in a safe place," Garcia said at a press conference on Friday morning.

"I believe in Canada. We feel safe here and we are scared now to return to Mexico."

Her 20-year-old son, Victor Aguilar, says he fears for his mother and younger sister.

"All I want is for them to be safe and be protected," he said. "That cannot happen if we are sent back to Mexico."

"I don't want to go back to Mexico because if I go back, my father might take me away from my family," added 13-year-old Valeria Aguilar.

Supporters of Garcia say Mexico doesn't have proper laws to protect women and their children from domestic abusers, and they claim the United Nations has also suggested this.

Those fighting for the family also say Canada has a legal and moral obligation to protect women and children from violence.

The deportation case is being heard by a federal court.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Dana Levenson