Canada’s Immigration Minister seeks solution for Indian students fearing deportation

Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser has announced that the Canadian government is actively pursuing solutions for international students facing deportation due to fraudulent college admission letters. Nearly 700 students, many from Punjab, were unknowingly defrauded by immigrant consultants who used inauthentic letters for their student visa applications. The CBSA has issued deportation notices to these students, despite them having gone to Canada on a study visa. Fraud came to light after they applied for permanent residency (PR) recently. Standing behind those affected, Members of Parliament such as Jenny Kwan have moved two motions in support of the international students subjected to exploitation schemes. They are calling for a humanitarian solution for the victims, including financial loss and distress, to have their deportation stayed, to waive inadmissibility on the basis of misrepresentation, and to provide a pathway to permanent status. Students are camping outside the CBSA’s Mississauga office, holding placards of Why do we need fake offer letters? and We are victims, not culprits. Fraser has stated on Twitter that the government is committed to supporting victims of fraud, not penalizing them, and identifying culprits. Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to save the future of the hundreds of Punjabi students who are facing deportation by taking their case up with Canadian authorities.