A group of individuals engaged in a lengthy international student demonstration in northeast Calgary are facing potential immigration issues that may lead to their departure from Canada, as indicated by an immigration attorney. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) disclosed that its officers were dispatched to the protest location to verify the immigration statuses of attendees. Out of 20 individuals checked, 12 were flagged as potentially inadmissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. These individuals were requested to appear at the CBSA office for further interviews on the same day, with no additional information provided due to privacy laws.
The CBSA stressed that anyone subject to immigration enforcement, including removal orders, is entitled to due legal process. The protest, which involved international graduates and their supporters highlighting work permit issues, took place near the Genesis Centre at Saddletowne Circle over several weeks. Similar demonstrations are occurring in Edmonton, with Alberta students resorting to hunger strikes to bring attention to the matter.
Some graduates from Portage College alleged that they were led to believe they could obtain post-graduation work permits upon completing their studies, only to have many applications denied. Portage College is seeking clarity from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regarding this issue. IRCC clarified that students commencing their studies before May 2024 are unaffected by the changes, with the refusals related to specific study program agreements.
The Calgary Police Service sought assistance from the CBSA during the protest after receiving complaints of noise disturbances and other infractions. Following police interactions, CBSA officers expanded their status checks, initially focusing on four individuals. Jatin Shory, an immigration lawyer representing numerous students challenging work permit denials, cautioned against public protests due to the risk of exposing undocumented status.
While the CBSA did not disclose the outcomes of the interviews with the flagged individuals, Shory indicated that exclusion orders are a common consequence for those without legal status. An exclusion order mandates immediate departure from Canada, confirmation with CBSA, and a one-year ban on reentry. Shory highlighted the difficulty in overturning such orders, with potential removal within a few weeks.
