Nearly 14000 international students applying for Canadian refugees, immigration minister claims most are suspected of fraud!
In the first nine months of this year, international students submitted nearly 14000 asylum applications in Canada, setting a record. Meanwhile, the number of newly issued study permits has significantly decreased.
Canadian Immigration Minister Mark Miller stated that some of the asylum applications submitted by individuals holding study permits appear to be false applications submitted on the advice of external advisors. He mentioned that the conditions in the source country have not changed and there is verbal evidence from department officials.
In recent years, the number of people entering Canada on study visas has sharply increased, while the number of students applying for refugee status is also increasing. These trends have sparked broader discussions about the number of temporary residents in Canada and their impact on services such as housing and healthcare.
Some observers have warned that as permanent residency rules tighten, students applying for asylum may be another way to stay in Canada.
According to federal immigration data obtained by The Globe and Mail, international students submitted a total of 13660 asylum applications to universities and colleges across Canada between January 1 and September 30 this year.
Data shows that international students submitted nearly 12000 asylum applications in 2023, compared to only 1810 in 2018. This year's total is expected to increase as there are still three months of data to be compiled.
Meanwhile, compared to the same period in 2023, the number of international student study permits issued in the first nine months of this year has decreased by over 100000. This change indicates a decrease in the number of new international students approved to come to Canada compared to the past, although there has been a slight increase in permit extensions.
Image source: Global News
So far in 2024, the schools with the highest number of asylum applications submitted are also those with a higher proportion of international students, including:
Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario, had 520 students submit asylum applications from January to September;
Seneca College has 490 asylum applications this year;
Niagara College has 410 applications this year.
Image source: Globe and Mail
Miller stated that the increase in asylum applications from international students, especially those submitted in their first year of school, indicates that the majority of these applications are false.
He said, "It is obvious that a person who has been here for a year or even longer, and whose home country conditions have not changed, is applying for asylum, which is unreasonable and seems abnormal
Obviously, someone suggested applying for asylum to these students who should have returned to their home country, and this was not the intention of the Canadian asylum system
According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the countries with the highest number of asylum applications among students holding study permits and extensions this year are India, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Request to investigate improper advice from immigration consultants
Miller has written to the Immigration and Citizenship Advisory College, requesting that the college president John Murray investigate whether licensed immigration advisors are "improperly recommending international students to apply for asylum".
Miller's office stated that the report regarding false applications has been conveyed to department officials.
In January of this year, Minister Miller implemented a two-year restriction on the application for study permits for international students, curbing the rapid growth of foreign students entering Canada. Starting from September, students enrolled in private vocational colleges that cooperate with public colleges will no longer be eligible to apply for work permits after graduation.
Murray stated that the professional code of conduct of the Immigration Advisory College clearly stipulates that licensees shall not encourage clients to be dishonest or fraudulent, and licensees who violate the code may face criminal sanctions. The college may impose disciplinary actions such as revocation of license and fines.
He stated in the statement, "The college works closely with IRCC and other partners to maintain the integrity of Canada's immigration system and address specific issues raised by the minister.
The top ten schools with the highest number of international students applying for refugees this year.
Image source: Globe and Mail
On the other hand, advocates for refugee rights accuse the federal government of using students as scapegoats, stating that there is no concrete evidence to suggest that these asylum applications are false.
Tanja Maleska, Co Executive Director of the Canadian Council of Refugees, stated that for many years, the federal Liberal government has conveyed conflicting messages to international students. She said that Mr. Miller has now "stigmatized" these students.
We are deeply concerned about the language surrounding international students. This behavior is an extremely serious' lure and then withdraw 'operation
Professor Yvonne Su, Director of the Refugee Research Center at York University, also expressed concerns about the way the minister discussed this issue. She pointed out that students often face enormous pressure as their parents borrow tens of thousands of dollars to support their studies in Canada, and changes in federal policies make it more difficult to achieve their dream of permanent residency.
Sean Coote, Vice President of International Affairs at Niagara College, stated that the school has never received a formal notification from the Immigration Department regarding someone seeking asylum.
Cape Breton University spokesperson Lenore Parsley said it is important to recognize that asylum applicants are only a small part of the overall international student population. She pointed out that CBU is committed to supporting all students, "including those facing crises due to political or social instability in their home countries
Conestoga College stated that they are not aware of any students applying for asylum.
Marie Carlynn Laflamme, spokesperson for the Chicoutimi campus of the University of Quebec, said that the university was surprised by the number of students applying for asylum, but could not predict in advance who would apply for asylum.
Conservative immigration critic Tom Kmiec accuses the federal government of its own policies leading to an increase in asylum applications. He stated that the government had previously approved a large number of student visas, and Miller's shift of responsibility to immigration advisors was a "lack of leadership".
Source link:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-international-students-asylum-claims-canada/