A group of individuals involved in a lengthy international student protest in northeast Calgary are facing potential inadmissibility issues and may be required to leave Canada, as per an immigration lawyer. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) responded to the protest site to verify the immigration statuses of attendees, identifying 12 out of 20 individuals as potentially inadmissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The identified individuals were requested to attend a follow-up interview at the CBSA office later that day. The CBSA emphasized that individuals subject to immigration enforcement have access to due process.
The protest, which took place near the Genesis Centre at Saddletowne Circle, involved international graduates advocating for improvements in work permit-related matters. Similar demonstrations are occurring in Edmonton, with some Alberta students resorting to hunger strikes to raise awareness of the issue.
Students from Portage College expressed disappointment after being denied post-graduation work permits despite believing they were eligible. Portage College is seeking clarification from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regarding the matter. An IRCC spokesperson clarified that students commencing studies before May 2024 are unaffected by recent changes, cautioning students to verify program eligibility before applying for post-graduation work permits.
The Calgary Police Service sought assistance from the CBSA due to concerns arising from a protest that began on July 24. While the demonstration was mostly peaceful, complaints were received regarding noise levels, obstruction of businesses, disturbances, and public intoxication. Police intervened when individuals were reported obstructing sidewalks without permits, leading to a check on their identification and subsequent involvement of the CBSA.
Immigration lawyer Jatin Shory, representing students contesting work permit denials, advised against public protests. Shory highlighted the uniqueness of the situation, referring to the group as “effectively advertising” their undocumented status. He suggested that the CBSA’s actions may signal a transformation in Canada’s immigration enforcement landscape.
The outcome of the interviews between the 12 individuals and the CBSA remains undisclosed. Shory mentioned that a common consequence for those without status in Canada could be the issuance of an exclusion order, mandating immediate departure and a one-year ban on reentry. While legal options exist to challenge exclusion orders, success rates are low, and removal could take place within weeks.