Indian students at centre of Canada’s deportation orders, rights groups call for halt on removal orders

Over 250 rights groups have written to the Canadian federal government, expressing concerns about their handling of a student protest in Calgary. The protest erupted following the loss of post-graduation work permits for around 1,500 individuals who had completed non-credit courses at Portage College sites in Alberta. The removal orders were issued after new eligibility rules were applied to their courses.

Rights groups, including Amnesty International and Greenpeace, have called for an independent review and a temporary suspension of deportation orders.

The demonstration occurred on August 12 in Calgary's Saddle Ridge area. Police maintained order overall, intervening when protesters blocked a pavement and erected unauthorized structures. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) checked the identification of about 20 people and determined that 12 were potentially inadmissible under immigration law.

These individuals were informed of a same-day interview with CBSA officials. Privacy laws prohibit the agency from disclosing the names of those affected, but all 12 were instructed to leave Canada if they did not have proper permission to study or work.

Bikramjit Singh of the Migrant Rights Network criticized the heavy-handed approach employed by law enforcement at the protest, stating that it aimed to intimidate participants. Amnesty International Canada's Julia Sande echoed this sentiment, warning that the checks may cause fear in individuals, regardless of their immigration status.

Gurpreet Singh, a protest attendee, recounted how he and others received only an hour's notice to appear at CBSA offices, even though they were still within a 90-day grace period. He claims that the interviewer used another person's paperwork during the questioning, resulting in a one-year exclusion order for him. Singh has now filed for a judicial review.

The controversy stems from a change in guidance issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on June 24, 2026, stating that graduates of non-credit programs are no longer eligible for post-graduation work permits. Students argue that they had enrolled before the update and had been assured by their institutions that the change would not apply to them.

Many finished their courses in 2024, 2025, and early 2026 and remained in Canada legally while their applications were processed. Refusals began to increase through early July 2026, causing frustration among students due to inconsistencies in outcomes. Some affected individuals received approval, while others faced permit withdrawal or denial.

Portage College had previously informed students via email that their eligibility for post-graduation work permits would remain unaffected under the new rules, provided they had begun their courses before September 2024. Students have written to immigration officials, requesting a review of the rule's timing and potential legal action as their 90-day window to secure a new permit expires.