Hundreds of Indian student graduates have staged protests against a new federal policy in Canada that threatens their residency status and risks deportation. Many international students, especially from India, had hoped to build better lives in Canada, but recent immigration policy changes have left over 70,000 student graduates facing an uncertain future.
Indian students have been protesting outside the legislative assembly in Prince Edward Island for over three months. Similar demonstrations have occurred in Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia. The protests are in response to new policies that reduce permanent residency nominations by 25 percent and impose restrictions on study permits.
These policy changes come as Canada has experienced rapid population growth, with immigration accounting for nearly 97 percent of last year’s increase, according to federal data.
Representatives from the Naujawan Support Network, a student advocacy group, warn that many graduates risk deportation when their work permits expire at the end of the year. Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student facing deportation, expressed frustration: “I spent the most crucial six years of my life taking many 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.”
Singh, like many others, invested his family’s savings into education with the hope of gaining permanent residency. Amid a local housing and job crisis, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is under pressure to reduce the number of temporary residents, a situation that has intensified ahead of next year’s expected election. Trudeau is facing declining poll numbers and scrutiny over his administration’s immigration policies.
In addition to the changes affecting international students, Canada is also reducing the number of temporary foreign workers it admits. The program, which was expanded in 2022 to address labor shortages, now faces cuts. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) reported that 183,820 temporary foreign worker permits were issued in 2023, an 88 percent increase from 2019. However, ESDC criticized employers for using the program to bypass hiring local talent.
Under the new regulations, work permits will be denied in regions with an unemployment rate of 6 percent or higher, though exemptions will be made for agriculture, food processing, construction, and healthcare sectors.
Prime Minister Trudeau assured that Canada remains committed to supporting immigration while responsibly integrating newcomers. “We’re evaluating various streams to ensure Canada remains supportive of immigration and provides pathways to success for everyone,” Trudeau said.
The government also aims to reduce the temporary resident population to 5 percent of Canada’s total population within three years. The International Sikh Student Organization argues that the employment and housing issues are rooted in broader policy failures rather than the influx of international students.
