International cooperation sought to address immigration fraud and protect affected students
In a significant development, the Government of Canada has agreed to temporarily suspend the deportation of 700 Indian students who fell victim to a fraudulent scam involving fake acceptance letters from Canadian colleges. The decision comes in response to a request made by Vikramjit Singh Sahney, a Member of Parliament from the Aam Aadmi Party and the International President of the World Punjabi Organization. Sahney, in collaboration with the Indian High Commission, appealed to the Canadian government, emphasizing that the students were innocent victims of fraud orchestrated by unauthorized agents.
“We have written to them and explained that these students have not engaged in any forgery or fraud. They have been deceived by unscrupulous agents who issued counterfeit admission letters and payment receipts. Visas were also obtained without proper verification. When the students arrived, the immigration department allowed them to enter,” stated Sahney.
Acknowledging the students’ plight and the need to address the issue comprehensively, Sahney further announced the formation of an investigation committee to delve into the matter.
Meanwhile, Punjab’s NRI Affairs Minister, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, has also taken proactive steps to assist the affected students. Dhaliwal penned letters to the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, and Canada’s High Commissioner to India, Cameron Mackay, urging their personal intervention in resolving the deportation crisis. Dhaliwal highlighted the students’ innocence and the exploitation they suffered at the hands of a network of fraudsters, which included a travel agent, officials at the Canadian Embassy in India, and other agencies in Canada.
Expressing concern for the students and their families, Dhaliwal implored the high commissioners to engage with the relevant authorities in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Government of Canada, seeking a favorable resolution to prevent their deportation.
Earlier this month, Dhaliwal had approached India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, urging the central government to address the predicament faced by approximately 700 Indian students, predominantly from Punjab, who had become embroiled in an immigration fraud case in Canada. Dhaliwal urged the government to consider granting work permits instead of deporting the students, given their valid visas.
Additionally, he appealed to Home Minister Amit Shah to collaborate with the Punjab Government in punishing the travel agents responsible for deceiving the students. Dhaliwal emphasized the need for stringent laws to prevent future incidents of human trafficking and advised the people of Punjab to thoroughly verify the credentials of colleges and travel agents before venturing abroad for studies.
The temporary suspension of deportation by the Canadian government, coupled with the efforts of Indian officials, demonstrates the importance placed on protecting the rights and interests of the affected students. As investigations unfold and diplomatic channels are mobilized, the hope is that a just resolution will be reached, providing relief to the victims of this unfortunate immigration fraud.
