Over 70,000 International Students Facing Deportation from Canada in 2024

There are presently nationwide protests in Canada over the possibility of deportation for over 70,000 international student graduates as a result of changes in federal legislation. An unprecedented number of students who arrived in the country with hopes of starting over feel as though their futures are now uncertain.

When their work permits expire at the end of this year, the graduates run the prospect of being deported, according to representatives of the student advocacy group Naujawan Support Network. This follows the announcement by the Canadian government of modifications to its immigration laws, among other things, limiting study visas.

These students have suffered greatly as a result. Tens of thousands of people claim they are now left with massive debt and dashed hopes after deciding to apply for permanent residency after finishing their education.

For many years, foreign individuals have used study visas as a means of obtaining Permanent Residency and eventually citizenship, even though this is never a guarantee for securing one’s future in Canada. The fact that a record number of temporary residents will have their work permits expire in the upcoming months is what makes this situation noteworthy.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged that these foreign workers were essential amid a labor crisis brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak, but he asserted that the nation’s economic demands have since changed when speaking to reporters at the Liberal cabinet retreat in Halifax.

There are also other options for obtaining citizenship and permanent residence; further details are accessible on the website of the Government of Canada.

Uniting from coast to coast

Amidst the impending deportations, international students throughout Canada are planning rallies. On Prince Edward Island, a group of students has camped out in front of the legislature, where they have been protesting for more than three months.

The foreign students claim they are in a dire predicament because they are now vulnerable to deportation as a result of new provincial regulations aimed at reducing permanent residency nominations by 25%. British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario all have scenes similar to this.

“To come to Canada, I took many risks during the most important six years of my life,” says Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student who is in danger of being deported. “I have worked, studied, paid taxes, and accrued enough CRS [Comprehensive Ranking System] points over the last six years, but the government has just taken advantage of us.”

Singh is a former international student who paid for his foreign tuition with the last of his family’s life resources. Now that his work visa is about to expire, he faces the terrifying prospect of being without permanent residence.

Immigration counselor Kanwar Sierah said, “There isn’t consistency anymore.” At first, they had to be ready for the biweekly CEC [Canadian Experience Class] draws. There is a significant backlog since pupils are unaware of the dates of the upcoming draws.

A narrative that holds them responsible for the local housing and employment difficulties has been refuted by hundreds of international students and immigrant workers who have staged protests around Brampton in recent months. Students like these and advocacy organizations like the International Sikh Student Organization assert that rather than being caused by the influx of foreign students, these issues stem from larger policy shortcomings.

They are requesting that the federal government prolong work permits and offer unobstructed routes to permanent residents, stressing that they should be treated fairly because they make a substantial economic contribution to Canada.

Trapped Between Expectation and Doubt

The demonstrations are a reflection of the increasing anguish and despair among overseas students who believe they have been unfairly singled out by the administration. They claim they are now being told to complete their degrees and return home while managing enormous debts, despite having made significant investments in both the Canadian economy and education.

In addition to offering consistent and clear avenues to permanent residency, the students and their supporters are pleading with the government to prolong post-graduate work permits and address the systemic faults that have resulted in their exploitation.

They claim that in the absence of these reforms, Canada risks losing both the confidence of incoming overseas students and a sizable percentage of its skilled labor force.