Cracks on the misuse of Canada Sharan: Canada’s bill will stem the increasing number of international students seeking asylum

Canada has introduced a new bill – the strong Borders Act, which aims to increase border security, stop the flow of illegal fantanel, compete money laundering and ensure the integrity of the immigration system.“Amidst the wide array of provisions, there are measures that curb the increasing number of international students – many of them – from India seeking asylum.Many Indian students are misled, assuming that they can convert their temporary student’s position into permanent residence by claiming asylum. The truth is that the claims made under false pretex can result in exile.To protect the integrity of the refuge system, the bill states that claims made more than a year after reaching Canada (after 24 June 2020) will not be referred to for immigration and refugee boards (IRBs). In addition, claims worked for more than fourteen days after entering Canada from the US through land borders, it would also be disqualified. The bill states that the claims will be decided only when the claimant is in Canada, inactive cases will be removed, and voluntary departure will be expedited. However, weak claimants, such as minors, will be assigned to representatives to support them during the proceedings.Speaking to TOI, a regulated Canadian Immigration Advisor (RCIC), Cubir Kamal said, “This is a very important response to curb the claims of fraud and ensure public safety. This remedy is applied universally, which includes students and temporary inhabitants, whether they leave Canada and return. The affected individuals can still apply for a pre-east-risk evaluation (PRRA) to ensure that they have not been deported in unsafe conditions. ,“Increase in refuge claims by international students, reaching a record to 20,245 in 2024 and increasing in 2025, is responsible for large -scale stringent immigration policies, including a significant decrease in study permits, a restricted work permit eligibility and limited routes for permanent residence. The top sources for these claims are India, Nigeria, Guinea, Ghana and Congo democratic republics. With a processing capacity of about 275,000 cases IRB backlogs and 80,000 claims annually, a delay of about 3.5 years increases the issue, pushed international students to asylum as an alternative to living in Canada. ,The bill empowers immigration, refugee and citizenship Canada (IRCC), the country’s immigration agency to share information (eg status, immigration documentation) with federal, provincial and regional officials through agreements signed. The agency will also have the right to cancel, suspend or replace immigration documents, and will have the right to accept, suspend or close new applications; Or prevent processing of existing applications for the reasons for public health or national security.Immigration Minister Leena Metlayz Diab commented on the bill, “Canada is taking action to respond to the growing migration pressures. We are improving security along the Canada-US border and making our immigration and refuge system strong, more flexible and responsible for new and developed pressures.