TORONTO -- A transgendered Uxbridge, ON, woman was deported to her native Brazil on Sunday despite claims that her sexuality will put her in danger in the South American country.

Silvani Marques, 37, had been taking hormone treatments in Canada and dresses as a woman.

"I am hoping everything will be fine," she said before his flight home. "I was hoping for more from Canada."

Marques was arrested by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) last week after she was called for an interview.

She claimed she was humiliated "by having my body searched, my belongings scrutinized and entering a Pearson Airport public area in handcuffs."

Marques claims Brazilians "do not tolerate transgendered (males) or homosexuals" and that she would face discrimination at home.

"I didn't come to Canada to hurt the health system nor looking for any type of surgeries," Marques said by e-mail from Sao Paulo. "I'm happy with my body exactly exactly the way it is."

Marques said a homosexual is killed in Brazil every 26 hours and a transgendered woman is 15 times more likely to be killed than a gay male.

She said Brazilian companies will not hire her because of her sexual orientation.

"I'm sorry to read Canadians only know Brazil through Wikipedia by its Carnival and Gay Parade," she wrote. "There are still 360 days left in the calendar, in a real world."

The engineer arrived in Canada in 2007 and applied to remain as a skilled worker. Marques, who was born a male, said she didn't receive a response and filed an unsuccessful refugee claim in 2010 that led to his removal.

She speaks four languages and holds a master's degree in industrial management from Brazil and certificates from the University of Toronto.

She said her parents in Brazil do not speak to her due to her sexuality and she is staying in a shelter.

Officials of the CBSA said anyone who does not have legal status in Canada faces deportation.