Protests rocks Canada as 70,000 international students face deportation

Tens of thousands of international students have protested the new regulations imposed by the Justin Trudeau-led federal government in the streets as Canada heads towards a significant immigration overhaul.

About 70,000 international students took part in statewide rallies, which took place in several jurisdictions, including Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia, according to a report by City News Toronto.

Under the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, the work permit for international students was eliminated in 2021. Additionally, the federal government imposed a two-year limit on international student visas last year.

In 2023, international students accounted for 37 percent of study visa holders in Canada, contributing to existing pressures from the housing crisis, unemployment, and other services. With the cap on student visas, the government expects a 35 percent reduction in the intake of foreign students.

To address this, the Canadian government in June announced that foreign nationals can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the border.

Amid the protests, representatives from the student advocacy group Naujawan Support Network have warned that many graduates could face deportation once their work permits expire at the end of the year.

The situation has worsened with new provincial policies that have introduced a 25% reduction in permanent residency nominations.

“I spent six years taking risks to come to Canada. I studied, worked, paid taxes, and earned enough Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, but the government has taken advantage of us,” Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student facing deportation, told City News Toronto.

Similarly, immigrant workers have staged rallies in recent months throughout Brampton, countering claims that they are to blame for local housing and job crises.