Indian students not to be deported immediately, task force to investigate: Canadian minister

Canadian authorities, in a recent development, have decided against the immediate deportation of Indian students who were ensnared in an alleged immigration scam, wherein they arrived in the country with fraudulent university admission letters, as per media reports.

Canada's immigration minister Sean Fraser on Wednesday said that a task force has been established to thoroughly investigate each case.The primary objective is to distinguish between genuine students and those who tried to game the system and carried out this fraud. Those found to be complicit in the scam will face legal prosecution under Canadian law, the immigration minister said.

Also Read | India: LG reviews Amarnath Yatra arrangements in Pahalgam, over 60k troops to be deployed for security

Add WION as a Preferred Source

"Only those candidates found genuine or victims of fraud will be allowed to stay in Canada. But those found to be guilty will be prosecuted under Canadian law," he said as quoted by media portals.

Temporary suspension of deportation

The Canadian government last week temporarily halted the deportation of these students following protests against their forced repatriation. However, the future course of action and the duration of this relief were not immediately clarified.

Scam background

The Canada Border Services Agency recently issued deportation notices to approximately 700 Indian students, primarily from Punjab, after discovering that their admission letters to Canadian universities were counterfeit.

Also Read | Shark that ate Russian tourist on camera to be mummified, put on display

While most of these students arrived in Canada in 2018, the issue of fake letters only came to light five years later when they applied for permanent residency.

Government stance, international support

This issue garnered attention in the Canadian parliament, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasising the need to identify the culprits rather than penalise the victims. Trudeau expressed support for the victims, stating that they would have an opportunity to present evidence in their defence. He also acknowledged the substantial contributions made by international students to the country.

Watch | UK Police seek motive for Nottingham murders, man arrested after police finds three dead

"Victims of this fraud will have an opportunity to demonstrate and present evidence for their case. We recognise the immense contributions that the international students bring to our country," Trudeau had said at the time.

Furthermore, India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar previously stated that the Indian government raised the matter with Canadian authorities. It was agreed upon that it would be unfair to deport the students if they were innocent parties in the scam.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.