(cont'd)
'This is not just about a woman who made Canada her home. This is a person about whom there are serious questions whether she ever committed a crime'
"I am deeply shocked and saddened at the decision in Lucy Lu's case, which appears to me to be a complete derogation from all of Canada's commitments to upholding human rights," wrote Sharon Dillon, an immigration lawyer in Ireland, in a letter to the prime minister last week.
Dillon says Canada is regarded as the standard-bearer on immigration and human rights issues worldwide and is highly thought of for its protection of immigrants.
Dillon points to the Prime Minister's own call for improved human rights policies during his February trip to China.
"I can only view such a call for action as hypocritical and insincere when Lucy Lu remains under threat of deportation," Dillon said.
Lu scoffs at the suggestion she married Darryl Gellner to gain landed-immigrant status. She proudly displays her wedding album, one of her special treasures.
Lu and Gellner were married less than a month when Immigration Canada ordered her out of the country, but the relationship dates back to December 1997.
He took her to the Festival of Trees on their first date.
After a few months, the confirmed bachelor started to mention marriage.
"At first, I thought he was joking," she says. "After a few months, I knew he already had the ring because one time he took me to the store and asked the lady to measure my finger."
A converted nursery in Calvary Bible Church may not be an ideal home, but the congregation has gone to great lengths to make it as cosy as possible. The current project is a hand-made quilt for Lu's bed.
Meanwhile, Gellner and Lu's circle of friends - spearheaded by her employer, shoe store owner Bob Hawkins - lobby on Lu's behalf, sending letters and information packages to church groups, unions and media around the world.
Cornwall says he will ask locals across the province to show their support and contribute to her legal costs.
"As a union, we don't condone this kind of stuff," Cornwall said.
Legal appeals are in the works, but previous pleas to Immigration and the courts have been unsuccessful and Lu remains very much afraid that one day, Immigration will get tired of waiting for her to come out of the church and take steps to remove her with force.
"I really don't know what's going to happen," she says. "All I know is that I can only live one day at a time and that's what I'm trying to do."