The plight of 700 Indian students who face deportation from Canada as a result of forged admission offer letters has attracted widespread attention and prompted calls for intervention from a variety of stakeholders.
As a result of the discovery of forged admission offer letters, approximately 700 Indian students, predominantly from Punjab, are at risk of deportation from Canada. In March, when these students applied for permanent residency in Canada, the issue came to light. The students, primarily from Punjab, claim that they were deceived by fraudulent immigration consultants and are now at risk of deportation after Canadian authorities discovered that their admission offer letters were forged.
What is going on?
After Canadian authorities discovered that the students’ admission offer letters were forgeries, deportation orders were issued. The students allege that they were provided with fraudulent documents by unscrupulous immigration agencies and consultants. When they learned of the deception, many of the affected students had already completed their studies, begun working, and even applied for permanent residency.
You can also read: Will the collapse of the Kakhovka dam mark a turning point in the Ukraine conflict?
The afflicted students have organized protests in Canada in front of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) headquarters. Their demonstrations seek to bring attention to their plight and solicit aid. Additionally, Lovepreet Singh of Punjab, who was among the first to be deported on June 13, utilized social media to expose the fraudulent practices of certain immigration agents. These demonstrations and public appeals have garnered international attention, delaying the deportation orders.
Nevertheless, the students continue looking for a long-term solution that ensures their path to permanent residency. Students have claimed innocence and argued they should not be held accountable for the fraudsters’ conduct. Ministers, including Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and even Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have taken notice of the student’s plight.
Punjab Minister Dhaliwal seeks center’s intervention and govt. set to provide legal help
Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal, Punjab NRI Affairs Minister, appealed to S. Jaishankar, minister of external affairs, to intervene in the issue of 700 Indian students facing deportation from Canada. Dhaliwal stresses that these students, who were discovered to possess forged admission offer letters, are innocent victims of fraudsters. He requested Jaishankar’s personal attention and urged him to communicate with the Canadian High Commission and government to prevent the students’ deportation. Before sending their children abroad to study, Dhaliwal also advised the Punjabi citizens to confirm the legitimacy of travel agents and universities.
Dhaliwal on Thursday has announced that the state government would provide free legal aid to Indian students facing deportation from Canada. He emphasized that, despite the financial and emotional obstacles they face, the students in Canada will be supported by expert immigration attorneys.
In addition, he wrote to all Canadian Members of Parliament of Punjabi descent, imploring them to resolve the students’ situation and secure their futures.
Canada assures fair evaluation
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Canadian government has acknowledged the issue and pledged to resolve it. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has guaranteed that his government would evaluate the deportation cases of 700 Indian students. Instead of punishing the victims, he emphasized the importance of identifying the perpetrators behind the fraudulent admission offer letters.
“We are deeply aware of the cases of international students facing removal orders over fraudulent college acceptance letters. To be clear, our focus is on identifying the culprits, not penalizing the victims,” said PM Trudeau said during a Parliament debate.
This statement emphasizes Canada’s commitment to impartiality and a just resolution of the issue.
Sean Fraser, minister of immigration for Canada, promised a fair outcome for the 700 international students facing deportation. Although, Fraser does not specify whether the deportation orders will be suspended, but he emphasized that the government is actively pursuing a solution for the affected students. In addition, he warned that those who exploited international students would be held accountable for their actions.
Deportation postponed following protests
Following widespread student protests and demonstrations, the Canadian government has decided to postpone the deportation of 700 Indian students on Saturday (Today). One of the students, Jaspreet Singh, verified that their deportation had been postponed, and they were hopeful that a path to permanent residency would be made available. This development provides a glimmer of optimism for the students caught in this unfortunate circumstance.
In conclusion, the case of 700 Indian students facing deportation from Canada highlights the need for stronger regulations and verification processes to prevent fraudulent practices in the immigration and education sectors, while emphasizing the importance of providing support and justice for the affected students.
