AN ongoing investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has found that over 260 Canadian colleges and universities allegedly entered into agreements with two Indian firms involved in a human trafficking racket. This revelation is a major embarrassment to the Canadian government, which asserted earlier this week that it was committed to strengthening the integrity of its immigration system. It’s apparent that Canada’s efforts to curb visa fraud have left a lot to be desired.
Canadian immigration authorities have detected thousands of potentially fraudulent student acceptance letters this year, but this is a belated step to cover up regulatory lapses. The ED, which is probing a money laundering case linked to the trafficking of Indians, has unearthed a conspiracy under which applicants were charged Rs 55-60 lakh each to facilitate their illegal entry into the US. The modus operandi was simple: take admission in a Canadian college or university; obtain a student visa; go to Canada but don’t join the institution; sneak into America through the US-Canada border. The massive fraud might have gone undetected had a horrifying tragedy not happened. A family of four from Gujarat was found frozen to death near the border in January 2022. The desperate pursuit of the American Dream had claimed the lives of Jagdish Patel, his wife and two kids.
Canada continues to be a popular destination for Indian students, genuine or otherwise, even though Delhi-Ottawa relations have soured over the past year or so. In the current year, over four lakh Indians are studying in the Maple Country. The ED findings should prompt Canada to clean up its immigration system on priority. Considering that foreign students and immigrants have played a key role in the country’s economic success, Canada should crack down on shady institutions and unscrupulous agents. Closer coordination with India is a must to weed out fraudsters.