More than 1,000 international students, many from Punjab, have been protesting for nearly 10 days against rejected work permits and concerns over losing their legal status
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers have conducted immigration status and identity checks at a protest site in Calgary where hundreds of international students, many of them from India, have been demonstrating against rejected Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) applications.
More than 1,000 students, many from Punjab, have reportedly been protesting at the site for nearly 10 days, including through a rotating hunger strike.
CBSA officers visit protest site
As per videos doing the round son social media, CBSA officers reportedly arrived at the demonstration site and checked participants’ identification, study permits and work authorisations.
Note: Firstpost could not independently verify the suthenticity of the video.
The agency is responsible for enforcing Canada’s immigration laws, investigating potential violations and carrying out removals when required.
It was not immediately clear whether anyone was detained or issued a formal notice during the checks.
The presence of immigration enforcement officers at the protest has drawn criticism from student advocacy groups. Organisers argue that conducting status checks at a demonstration could intimidate students and discourage them from exercising their right to protest.
Students protest PGWP rejections
The checks come amid growing frustration among international students and recent graduates over PGWP rejections and the expiry of existing permits.
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Students say many of them met the academic and financial requirements for their programmes and invested heavily in Canadian education with the expectation that they would be eligible for post-study work opportunities.
Some protesters now fear losing their legal status in Canada if their permits expire without an alternative pathway.
Students demand policy changes
The protesters are calling for rejected applications to be reviewed and for authorities to protect students who entered Canada under earlier immigration rules.
One of their key demands is that previous PGWP eligibility rules be applied to students who were already enrolled or had completed their studies before the latest policy changes.
They are also raising concerns over reduced provincial nominee programme opportunities, which they say have made it harder for international graduates working in sectors such as retail and services to qualify for permanent residency.
Canada tightens immigration rules
The dispute comes as Canada has introduced several measures to reduce temporary migration and limit the number of international students.
Federal and provincial authorities have tightened rules around study permits and post-study work opportunities amid concerns over housing availability, infrastructure pressure and the rapid growth of the temporary resident population.
Student groups have said they will continue protesting and are urging Canadian immigration authorities to examine rejected applications individually and provide clearer pathways for affected graduates to maintain legal status.