NDP calls for permanent residency for defrauded Punjabi international students facing deportation

NDP Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East) released the following statement:

“Following concerning reports of Punjabi international students facing deportation orders due to a targeted exploitation scheme by a fraudulent immigration agent, my office has been working with the Canadian Federation of Students, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, and Migrant Rights Network to advocate for impacted students so they can stay in Canada.

Last week, I wrote to the Minister of Immigration and the Minister of Public Safety to urge the government to immediately stay the deportation of all affected students, waive inadmissibility on the basis of misrepresentation, and provide them with a pathway to permanent status.

My office stands ready to help every student that was defrauded and who is not already working with the organizations cited above.

While Conservatives are making symbolic gestures at the immigration committee that won’t stop the impacted students from being deported, the NDP is focused on getting the direct intervention of the Ministers of Public Security and Immigration in these cases.

Students’ lives and careers are at stake. The deportation orders must be stopped, and permanent residency must be granted to them.

I remain committed to working with the impacted students and the Ministers’ offices to resolve this situation as soon as possible. Impacted students can contact my office for assistance at jenny.kwan@parl.gc.ca.”