The Canadian Government, amid a temporary suspension of the deportation of more than 700 Indian students, primarily from Punjab, has said it is working on a process to allow the students an opportunity to demonstrate that they were victims of exploitation.
This development comes as the students face potential deportation charges related to obtaining visas through fraudulent admission letters. The issue came to light when these students applied for permanent residency in Canada.
Responding to a question in Parliament on Monday, Sean Fraser, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, assured that the “innocent students who are the victims of fraud” would be given a chance to “prove that they were taken advantage of”.
Fraser acknowledged the mental health concerns faced by many students due to the uncertainty surrounding their status and emphasised that the Government would establish a process for them to present their case and provide an appropriate remedy.
Fraser’s statement came in response to a query by Jenny Kwan, a member of the Opposition New Democratic Party, who raised concerns about the students’ predicament. However, the Minister also reiterated that individuals involved in fraudulent schemes or complicit in such activities would face the consequences for violating Canada’s laws.
India has consistently urged Canadian authorities to ensure fairness and adopt a humanitarian approach, given that the affected students were allegedly deceived by agents. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed that India has raised the issue with Canadian authorities and emphasised the need to take action against those responsible for misleading the students, rather than punishing the students themselves. The Indian Government continues to engage with Canada on this matter.
Government sources in New Delhi reported that some Indian students facing potential deportation have received “stay orders” from Canadian authorities. They also clarified that the actual number of Indian students facing deportation is significantly lower than the initially reported 700.
Recently, a Canadian Parliamentary committee unanimously recommended that the border services agency halt the deportation of Indian students who were deceived by unscrupulous education consultants in India, resulting in their entry into the country with fraudulent college admission letters.
Jenny Kwan, who proposed the motion, argued on Monday that international students victimised by dishonest consultants should not be subjected to deportation and inadmissibility based on misrepresentation.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in response to a question by Indian-origin MP Jagmeet Singh regarding the fate of the Indian students, affirmed that the Government is fully aware of cases involving international students who face removal orders due to fraudulent college acceptance letters.
Trudeau emphasised that their focus is on identifying the culprits rather than penalising the victims, ensuring that individuals defrauded will have the opportunity to present evidence and demonstrate their situations.
