Canada Immigration Minister Promises Support for Deported Students in Fraud Case

Ottawa: Canada’s Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, expressed his belief that immigrant students, primarily from Punjab, who are facing deportation due to fake documents, are victims of fraud. He assured that a process would be established to allow these students to prove their innocence and provide them with appropriate remedies. Fraser emphasized that those who knowingly engaged in fraudulent activities would face the consequences of breaking Canadian laws.

The deportation notices were issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to students who had submitted visa applications from 2018 to 2022 through Education Migration Services, led by Brijesh Mishra, who is now on the run. Mishra is accused of cheating students out of large sums of money. The students initially arrived in Canada on study visas, but the fraud came to light when they applied for permanent residency.

Jenny Kwan, a member of the opposition New Democratic Party, raised concerns about the students’ mental health due to the uncertainty they are facing. Fraser acknowledged these concerns and stated that a process would be established to allow students to demonstrate that they were taken advantage of and provide them with appropriate remedies.

MP Sukh Dhaliwal, of Punjabi origin, disputed claims that 700 Indian students faced deportation, suggesting that the number may be closer to 200. He emphasized the need to individually evaluate the cases of those who were genuinely deceived and ensure that victims are not punished while the culprits face justice.

Dhaliwal highlighted the presence of an immigration fraud network primarily operating in Punjab and Delhi, which exploited the Canadian system through misrepresentation and fraudulent details during the college admission process. One student, Lovepreet Singh, who had obtained a visa based on a fraudulent admission letter, faced deportation but has now received a stay order.

Numerous stories on social media recount the experiences of Indian victims who lost substantial amounts of money to unauthorized consultants. These consultants not only cheated the victims but also jeopardized their chances of obtaining permanent residency.