9,000 Punjabis among 30,000 face deportation risk in Canada

Nearly 9,000 Punjabi international students and asylum claimants are among 30,000 migrants in Canada who have received notices putting them at risk of deportation following the enactment of the new immigration law, Bill C-12.

The Bill called the ‘Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act’, which received royal assent on March 26, has tightened asylum rules, making claims filed more than one year after entering Canada generally ineligible for a full hearing at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). The provision applies retroactively to those who entered after June 24, 2020.

According to CBC News, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has started issuing procedural fairness notices to around 30,000 asylum seekers, informing them that their claims may no longer qualify. Many of these letters advise recipients to leave Canada voluntarily or face enforcement action.

The Globe and Mail reported that the notices have triggered panic among affected communities, with a significant number being Punjabis who came on study permits and later sought asylum as their visas expired or post-graduation opportunities narrowed.

A spokesperson for the Immigration Minister told media outlets that the government is now implementing the new law. “Now that Bill C-12 has become law, we are in the process of sending procedural fairness letters to individuals who could be impacted,” the spokesperson said.

Most of the Punjabi claimants are former international students from Punjab who had applied for asylum after living in Canada for over a year. With stricter study permit rules and limited pathways to permanent residency, many had turned to the asylum route to extend their stay.

Under the new rules, ineligible claimants will only receive a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) instead of a full refugee hearing, raising concerns among immigration lawyers about limited opportunities to present their cases.

IRCC has clarified that the notices are not final deportation orders and give recipients a chance — usually 21 days — to submit additional information. However, failure to respond or leave could lead to removal proceedings.

The development has caused widespread concern in Punjabi diaspora circles in cities like Brampton, Surrey and Calgary, as well as back in Punjab. Community organisations have advised affected students to immediately consult registered immigration consultants or lawyers and gather all supporting documents.