Canada border officers conduct checks at Indian-origin students’s demonstration site
Canadian border agents checked immigration status at a Calgary protest by Indian students, raising concerns over post-graduate work permit denials.
Canadian border agents conducted immigration status checks on Indian-origin students protesting in Calgary on Wednesday, according to reports. Video footage of the agents' arrival at the protest site was shared on social media, and confirmed by both students and local media outlets. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reportedly "raided" the protest, taking 10 to 12 individuals for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) to verify their immigration status.
The students were protesting a weeks-long issue related to hundreds of international Indian students being denied post-graduate work permits (PGWPs) due to their enrollment in non-credit courses without certificates, diplomas, or degrees. These programs were offered through Portage College. The protests, which include a hunger strike, involve thousands of impacted students and supporters from Calgary and Edmonton.
The denial of PGWPs leaves these students' immigration status uncertain. Alberta's Premier, Danielle Smith, criticized the situation, stating that a student visa is meant for temporary study and that universities and colleges should prioritize serving Alberta students. Smith also referenced a previous statement from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, emphasizing that individuals without authorization to stay must follow a specific process.
Canadian media reported that PGWP applications must be processed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
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