Following the passing of a new immigration bill in Canada, the threat of deportation now looms over 9,000 Punjabi students. The Immigration Department of Canada has issued notices to 30,000 refugees in the wake of the passing of Bill C-12. Under the new bill, the refugee status previously accorded to these individuals has now been revoked.
In protest against this measure, students from various countries, including Punjabi students, staged a demonstration in Winnipeg on April 17, demanding that the government refrain from revoking work permits or initiating deportations.
Students from Punjab enroll in large numbers in Canadian Colleges
Every year, approximately 150,000 students from Punjab enroll in Canadian colleges. Upon completing their courses, they are granted work permits. Previously, once their work permits expired, these individuals would apply for refugee status and continue working for years while their applications were pending. However, under the new regulations, they must now file their applications within one year; failure to do so could result in deportation.
In the notices issued to students whose work permits have expired and who are currently residing in Canada as refugees, the Canadian government has directed them to provide a clear explanation regarding the grounds for their ineligibility.
Failure to Respond Will Result in Work Permit Cancellation
Students are required to submit supporting documentation in cases involving medical emergencies or threats to their lives in their home countries. All recipients have been asked to submit their responses within 21 days, specifically by May 3. The notices explicitly state that if a response is not received within the stipulated timeframe, the work permit will be revoked, and deportation proceedings will be initiated. In light of this decision by the Canadian government, a large number of Punjabi students are currently seeking legal counsel.
Approximately 9,000 Punjabis are affected by the new rule
According to immigration data, approximately 9,000 Punjabis are among the 30,000 individuals who have received these notices. The Canadian government asserts that the objective behind implementing the new legislation Bill C-12, is to identify individuals residing in the country illegally.
Under the new bill, refugee claims will no longer be adjudicated by the Refugee Board. Previously, if an individual was apprehended working without a valid work permit, their case would be heard by the Refugee Board a process that often took years to conclude, allowing the individuals to continue working throughout that period.
What is Bill C-12
Bill C-12 is Canada’s new immigration legislation. It was introduced recently with the aim of reforming the immigration system. Under the old regulations, any individual could apply for asylum at any point after arriving in Canada, and their case would often drag on in the courts for years. But now, applications must be filed within a year; otherwise, deportation is followed.
Under the new law, it is now mandatory to file an asylum claim within one year of arriving in Canada. If an individual fails to do so and is subsequently apprehended, the regulations stipulate that they may be deported without a formal hearing.
This legislation is also the reason behind the issuance of the current notices, as the law officially came into effect in 2025. Consequently, individuals who were already residing in the country prior to this date have also fallen under its purview.