2024-09-26 11:55:25
Ottawa: The issue of international students in Canada is now gaining momentum. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed concern over the misuse of the system for local residency and citizenship in the country. He has spoken of opposing students using the process of seeking asylum for citizenship. Trudeau, who arrived in New York to attend the United Nations meeting, said on Tuesday that it is Canada’s moral obligation to provide asylum to people fleeing violence and persecution, but it also needs to be ensured that this system is not misused. Trudeau said that ‘Our ability to do this (grant asylum) means that we should be able to correctly identify who needs the most help. Who is really a refugee and others are using the asylum route as a shortcut to obtain permanent residence or citizenship in Canada, against which we need to constantly maintain pressure.’
Asylum applications on the rise in Canada
Data from the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada shows that 13,000 international students have applied for asylum in Canada during the first eight months of 2024. Between January 1 and August 31, 119,835 asylum applications were made in Canada. Of these, 12,915 claimants were those who are either on a student permit (11,605) or are living in Canada under an extension of a study permit (1310).
600 percent increase in applications
According to Canadian media outlet Globe and Mail, the number of foreign students applying for asylum in 2018 was 1515. This means that the number of applications has increased by 600 percent in six years. This year, the highest number of asylum claims from foreign students came in the month of August. 1785 students living on student visa or study permit extension applied for refugee status.
Protests have started in Canada over the increasing number of immigrants. Immigration is being blamed for the rising inflation and housing crisis in the country. A large number of people in the country are protesting against Justin Trudeau’s liberal policies regarding immigrants.