Explained: Why are Indian Students Protesting in Canada?

In recent weeks, more than 70,000 international student gruates in Cana have found mselves facing a stark and uncertain future due to recent changes in federal immigration policies. new rules have sparked widespre protests across country, with many students, particularly those from India, voicing ir frustration and disappointment.

What’s Happening?

Canian government has introduced significant changes affecting international students. se changes include a cap on new study permits and a reduction in permanent residency nominations. This has left many international gruates fearing deportation when ir work permits expire at end of year.

Protests have erupted from coast to coast, with students organizing rallies and setting up encampments in various provinces, including Prince Edward Island (PEI), Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia. In PEI, students have been demonstrating outside legislative assembly for over three months, challenging new immigration rules.

Why Are Students Upset?

core of students' frustration lies in new policies affecting ir ability to stay in Cana. “I spent six years taking risks to come to Cana. I studied, worked, paid taxes, and earned enough Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, but government has taken vantage of us,” said Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student facing deportation. Singh, who invested his family's life savings in tuition, now confronts possibility of being forced to leave country with no clear path to permanent residency.

recent changes include a 25% reduction in permanent residency nominations, which has left many students unexpectedly vulnerable. ditionally, Canian government has imposed a cap on international student permit applications, which will limit number of new permits to around 360,000 in 2024—a 35% decrease from previous year.

Government’s Justification

Canian government, including Immigration Minister Marc Miller, has cited significant pressure on housing, healthcare, and or services as reason for se changes. new rules aim to manage influx of international students, who me up 37% of study visa holders in 2023.

One specific measure is restriction on "flagpoling," where temporary residents would leave and re-enter Cana to expedite work or study permit applications. government has also announced plans to reduce number of temporary foreign workers in low-wage jobs.

Indian Students’ Concerns

In places like Brampton, Indian students have led large protests, expressing frustration with being blamed for local housing and job crises. vocacy groups, such as International Sikh Student Organisation, argue that se issues are due to broer policy failures, not influx of international students.

Students feel y are being unfairly targeted despite ir substantial investments in ir education and Canian economy. y are calling on government to extend post-gruate work permits, establish clearer pathways to permanent residency, and dress systemic issues contributing to ir current predicament.

ongoing protests highlight growing desperation among international students, who now find mselves at a crossros, caught between ir dreams of building a future in Cana and harsh reality of new immigration restrictions. ir situation underscores broer challenges of managing immigration and student policies in a rapidly changing world.