CANADA
In response to widespread protests, the Canadian government has decided to delay the deportation of Indian students who were facing removal proceedings. The initial trigger for the protests was the case of Lovepreet Singh, a student from Chatmala village in Punjab.
Jaspreet Singh, one of the students, expressed relief, stating, “Mine and Lovepreet Singh’s deportation from Canada has been postponed. The government needs to provide us with a pathway to permanent residency.”
These students were among a group of 700 Indian students who were facing deportation after being accused of obtaining visas based on fraudulent admission letters from Canadian universities.
Lovepreet had received a directive from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) to leave the country by June 13, 2023, as it was discovered that the offer letter he used to enter Canada on a study permit six years ago was forged.
Canada’s immigration minister, Sean Fraser, took to Twitter and expressed the government’s commitment to finding a solution for international students facing uncertainty due to fraudulent college admission letters. He mentioned that those responsible for taking advantage of genuine students aspiring to study in Canada would face consequences, while innocent victims would have their cases fairly considered.
Vikramjit Singh Sahney, a Member of Parliament from the Aam Aadmi Party, stated that the decision to postpone the mass deportation was made following his request and with the cooperation of the Indian High Commission. He clarified that these students were not responsible for any forgery or fraud, as they had fallen victim to unauthorized agents who issued fake admission letters and receipts of payment. He added that visas were granted without proper verification, and many students only discovered the forgery when they attempted to apply for permanent residency.
India’s Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar, criticized the decision to punish students who pursued their education in good faith and pledged to continue addressing the issue with Canadian authorities. He emphasized that if there were individuals misleading the students, those responsible should be held accountable.
The postponement of the deportations provides a temporary respite for the affected students, and their case highlights the need for stricter verification processes to prevent such fraudulent activities. The Indian government will persist in advocating for the rights of these students and seeking justice for their genuine educational pursuits.
