A Toronto high school student fighting a deportation order to Mexico says he will be killed if he returns to his homeland.

Daniel Garcia's lawyer says he is in "a race against the clock" to make his case before the government deports him.

Reached by phone at the detention centre, Garcia said he is "very nervous" and doesn't want to go back to Mexico.

He said thugs have already told his mother they will kill him if he returns.

Garcia has been held in an immigration detention centre since last week and his lawyer says he could be deported within days.

Garcia's sister Brenda was deported on Monday. While in Mexico, Daniel lived with Brenda and her girlfriend. According to The Toronto Star, Brenda's partner was shot to death four years ago.

The siblings came to Canada in 2007. In their refugee claim hearings, both Brenda and Daniel said they were the victims of repeated acts of violence fuelled by homophobia.

Their appeal for refugee status was denied.