Thirteen-year-old Dio Gama will get to play baseball in the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania after all.

GamaB次元官网网址檚 team, the Whalley Major Allstars from Surrey, B.C., had thought they would be without the young outfielder after a federal judge ordered a review of the familyB次元官网网址檚 immigration case last month.

There were fears Gama would be blocked from re-entering Canada if he travelled to the U.S. for the tournament without status in Canada.

But the federal Immigration Department will issue Gama a temporary resident permit in order to allow him to accompany his team to the Little League World Series, The Canadian Press has learned.

The temporary permit is the result of an intervention by Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. A senior Immigration official says the $200 application fee for the permit will also be waived.

Whalley Little League president Gavin Burke said Wednesday night that when he told DioB次元官网网址檚 father, Noe, the news on the phone he said his son was B次元官网网址渙ver the moon.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淗is dad described that he was in the background when we told him, and he was just screaming with joy,B次元官网网址� said Burke.

Burke said he and his wife are going to take a red-eye flight to Toronto on Thursday night and then will drive down to Williamsport, Penn. He said they should be there by midday Friday, in time for the Canadian teamB次元官网网址檚 first game against Panama at 6 p.m.

B次元官网网址撯赌撯赌撯赌撯赌�

On Wednesday morning, Gama was out playing baseball B次元官网网址� just not in the place he most wants to be right now.

Dressed in full baseball gear, including a shirt proclaiming WhalleyB次元官网网址檚 recent Canadian Little League Championship, he caught fly balls hit by his father, Noe, and crushed pitches thrown by one of his younger brothers at Lionel Courchene Park, near the Gama familyB次元官网网址檚 home, in the Johnston Heights area of Surrey.

No question, Dio would rather be in Williamsport enjoying the Little League World Series experience with his 12 teammates.

At the moment, however, heB次元官网网址檚 the unlucky 13th player on the roster of young Surrey-area athletes, because on Sunday Dio wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to make the eight-hour bus trip to Pennsylvania from Mirabel, Quebec, where the Whalley squad went undefeated in eight games to win the national title Saturday.

Instead, he and his father flew home after celebrating the victory.

B次元官网网址� READ MORE: .

Dio, whose full name is Dioscoro, is prevented from going to the Little League World Series because of immigration issues that involve his fatherB次元官网网址檚 troubled past, although Noe doesnB次元官网网址檛 want to talk publicly about that in detail.

B次元官网网址淚 made a mistake when I was young, and I take the responsibility,B次元官网网址� said Noe, originally from Mexico.

A lawyer has told the family that if Dio crossed the border into the U.S., he may not be allowed back into Canada.

Dio was born 13 years ago in Las Vegas, and is an American citizen, his father said.

The family came to Canada a decade ago as refugees seeking citizenship, he said.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been waiting for that for 10 years,B次元官网网址� Noe said Wednesday.

B次元官网网址淲e are hoping he can still go (to Williamsport), and we talked to the MP here and they say theyB次元官网网址檙e willing to help us, to try to get a permit for Dio to play his favourite sport, to finish the World Series and come back,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淲e have been trying very hard for that, and I hope they see it. ItB次元官网网址檚 only for the kid, only for the boy.B次元官网网址�

Dio said winning the national championship in Quebec was B次元官网网址渁 good feeling, probably one of the best feelings IB次元官网网址檝e ever had.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty awesome winning the championship and going to the World Series, which is what I wanted to do. Unfortunately, I couldnB次元官网网址檛 goB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址� he added, his voice trailing off.

Dio has been playing baseball for three years, and practices the game with his father and brothers every chance he gets. Not surprisingly, he wants to play pro one day, after attending university.

B次元官网网址淓very day weB次元官网网址檙e out here, and they want to be at the park,B次元官网网址� Noe said of his three eldest sons. B次元官网网址淭he kids are here and they practice, thatB次元官网网址檚 what we do. You can see it, the passion. I have to keep them on fire.B次元官网网址�

Early this year, Dio told his father he wanted to for play for Whalley this spring, for a chance to go the Little League World Series.

B次元官网网址淗e decided that, to switch (from a Surrey Canadians team), and we talked to Whalley and, after the tryouts, they accepted him,B次元官网网址� Noe explained.

Playing as Team Canada now, WhalleyB次元官网网址檚 first game in Williamsport is Friday (Aug. 17) starting at 3 p.m. PDT against Latin America, represented by a squad from Arraijan, Panama.

As of Wednesday, the Gama family, Whalley league officials and supporters were hopeful Dio could still join the team at the big event, even as the clock ticked toward their opening game at the tournament.

B次元官网网址淲e are saying, just let him play,B次元官网网址� Mark Deshane, a vice-president of Whalley Little League, told the Now-Leader. B次元官网网址淭he kid is qualified and certified under Little League for his play B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 been here more than two years, so he gets to play, but if it wasnB次元官网网址檛 for this strange catch in our immigration situation, he would be at the World Series.

B次元官网网址淪o weB次元官网网址檙e just saying let the boy play, put everything else aside. Whatever happens with his immigration, maybe eventually heB次元官网网址檚 going to have to go back to the United States and his family will have to go back to Mexico, who knows. But if they decide to split the family up, that would be horrible, obviously, but that may be where theyB次元官网网址檙e going. But in the meantime, heB次元官网网址檚 got a dream and we want to help him play, so weB次元官网网址檙e putting out that message.B次元官网网址�

Noe said the family hopes everything will soon be resolved, and that Dio is B次元官网网址渞eady to go.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a dream for each boy, you know what I mean? We can send him even with the president of Whalley. I talked to him and he says if heB次元官网网址檚 going, heB次元官网网址檚 gonna take Dio with him.

B次元官网网址淲hatever I did in the past is different, and now itB次元官网网址檚 about the kids. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the way I see it,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淚 hope it gets solved in a good way, otherwise my son, he says it. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to hurt, hurt a lot, and one day, I donB次元官网网址檛 know if heB次元官网网址檚 going to go. You can see, he wants to cry. HeB次元官网网址檚 so sad.

B次元官网网址淵esterday, after I told him IB次元官网网址檓 sorry, because I know itB次元官网网址檚 my fault, he looked at me and said, B次元官网网址楧ad, you told me, and you told me the truth about what could happen, and just to let you know, IB次元官网网址檓 proud that youB次元官网网址檙e my dad.B次元官网网址� When he told me that, I feel good, you know, because I never lied to him about this.B次元官网网址�

With files from The Canadian Press.

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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