In a powerful surge of protests across Canada, thousands of international students have risen to challenge recent immigration reforms that jeopardize their dreams and futures. Nearly 70,000 foreign students face the grim prospect of deportation, a reality that has ignited anger and determination on the streets.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the federal government has introduced a series of controversial policy changes, sparking demonstrations in provinces from Prince Edward Island to British Columbia. The atmosphere in these protests is charged with palpable frustration as students gather to confront the anxiety of impending deportation.
The seeds of discontent were sown in 2021 when the government dismantled the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program. This critical pathway allowed international students to gain essential work experience in Canada after completing their studies, and its abrupt elimination was a devastating blow, drastically curtailing their chances for employment and permanent residency.
Last year’s introduction of a two-year cap on international student visas intensified the crisis. As concerns escalate over housing shortages and rising unemployment, international students have unfairly found themselves scapegoated. Yet, for those living on the brink of uncertainty, these policies feel like a betrayal of their hopes and hard work.
Advocacy groups like the Naujawan Support Network are sounding the alarm about the dire consequences many students may face as work permits set to expire at the end of the year leave them vulnerable to deportation.
“I spent six years taking risks to come to Canada… but the government has taken advantage of us,” lamented Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student now caught in this turmoil. Singh’s story echoes the sentiments of countless others who feel they have been unfairly targeted by the government’s sweeping changes.
Adding to the already precarious situation, new provincial policies have reduced permanent residency nominations by 25%, heightening fears and frustrations among the international student population.
As the protests grow louder and more resolute, the international student community and their allies are demanding that the Canadian government reconsider these reforms. They seek a clearer, more supportive pathway for those who have invested their time and dreams in Canada’s future. The unfolding situation is not just a crisis for these students; it poses a significant challenge to Canada’s social and economic fabric itself.
