Supporters of Lucene Charles say the single mother will have to leave three of her four children in foster care, if she is deported to St. Vincent on Feb. 20.

Charles married a Canadian 15 years ago but her former husband never sponsored her for citizenship.

Now Charles is devastated she may have to leave Canada, and leave her three Canadian-born children behind.

Charles is hoping an 11th hour hearing will permit her to stay in Canada on humanitarian grounds.

Charles has a job working as an administrative assistant at hospital in Hamilton.

She won an award from Ontario's Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration for being an outstanding volunteer and more than 6,000 people have signed a petition asking the federal government to reconsider her deportation.

Hamilton MP David Christopherson has asked the federal minister of immigration to intervene.

"We are going to do everything we humanly can do to keep Ms. Charles and her family here because that's the right thing to do," said Christopher.

Charles' supporters will hold a rally on Friday.

Her lawyer will ask for a stay of the deportation at a hearing later this week.