The Justin Trudeau government of Canada has recently changed its immigration policy, due to which about 70,000 international graduate students are at risk of being deported from Canada. A large number of Indian students are also included in this. Students in Canada have come out on the streets against this decision of the Trudeau government and are protesting heavily against the Trudeau government. The students who came to Canada with the dream of making a new life here are now protesting heavily from coast to coast and in different provinces.
According to media reports, the study permits of thousands of graduate students living in Canada are expiring at the end of this year, while the Canadian government is not in favor of extending them. Fearing deportation, these students are protesting across Canada and demanding that their study permits be extended. Apart from extending the study permit, these students are also demanding permanent residence for them.
Protesting students are holding rallies in different provinces of Canada. International students are setting up camps and holding rallies in various provinces including Prince Edward Island (PEI), Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia. Apart from this, hundreds of students have been protesting outside the Legislative Assembly for more than three months demanding changes in immigration rules.
Representatives of the Youth Support Network, a student advocacy group in Canada, warn that many graduates will face deportation when their work permits expire by the end of this year. The situation is particularly acute due to new provincial policies that cut permanent residence nominations by 25%, leaving many students vulnerable.
Indian student Mehakdeep Singh, who is facing deportation, told City News Toronto, “I took risks for six years to come to Canada. I studied, worked, paid taxes and earned enough Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, but the government has just used us and is now hell-bent on deporting us.” Singh said that he has invested his family’s life savings in this, but even then there is no guarantee of permanent residence. He said that like him, many Indians are facing similar crisis at this time.