Indian Students Caught in Canada’s Immigration Crackdown: Khalistani Exploitation Exposed

As new immigration policies take effect, students are finding it increasingly challenging to secure work opportunities or permanent residency, forcing some to engage in unlawful activities out of desperation. This dynamic is being exploited by extremist groups, like the Khalistanis.

Everyone dreams of a better life, in terms of educational and economic opportunities, standard of living and infrastructural development. One of the ways, Indians think they can achieve all of this is by settling abroad and one country that is at the top of their list is Canada. Between 2016 and 2019, the number of Indian international students getting enrolled at Canadian universities increased by 182%. According to NFAP analysis, the number of Indians immigrating to Canada registered an increase of about 326%.

But with anti-immigrant sentiment rising around the world, Ottawa is now cutting down on the number of foreign students and workers. In the words of the Country’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller, Canada is now trying to make it immigration sustainable system. The intake cap of international students for 2025 will decrease by 10% compared to 2024, remaining steady through 2026. This is a reduction of 36% from the 2023 levels.

So, with the introduction of these news laws, the loopholes in the country’s immigration system are now getting revealed. Daniel Bordman, a senior correspondent at The National Telegraph explains to India Today Global’s Ishita Mittra how the system is ‘completely broken and predatory in nature.’ He further explains how Indian students who are now going to bear the brunt of the new laws are being trapped by Khalistanis to push forward their separatist agenda.

Daniel says the news laws are a result of years of wrong policies on migrants. Canada has been accepting immigrants much more than its capacity, thriving on the income brought in by the students which has now led to a massive economic and housing crisis in the country, he adds. Reports claim the current shift is now leading to Indian students to attend Khalistani rallies and document their presence to later file asylum requests. On the same, Daniel explains, “Khalistanis have always been using Indian students”

Daniel highlights that this predatory system has left many Indian students vulnerable and caught in a difficult situation. As the new policies take effect, students are finding it increasingly challenging to secure work opportunities or permanent residency, forcing some to engage in unlawful activities out of desperation. This dynamic is being exploited by extremist groups, like the Khalistanis, who have a strong presence in Canada. By capitalizing on the students’ uncertainty, these groups are coercing them into supporting their separatist agenda, promising legal support or protection in return.

Courtesy : India Today

Note: This news is originally published in indiatoday.in and was used solely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights