Ottawa: In the first nine months of this year, over 12,000 international students applied for asylum in Canada, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31, a total of 119,835 refugee claims were made in Canada. Of these, 12,915 were claimants who were on either study permits (11,605) or study permit extensions (1,310), the department data said.
The increase in asylum applications from students is staggering. In 2018, only 1,515 students sought asylum, indicating a dramatic rise of approximately 600 percent.
August alone saw the highest number of claims this year, with 1,785 applications from those holding student visas or extensions.
Government's stance on asylum seekers
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized Canada’s moral obligation to provide asylum to individuals fleeing violence and persecution.
However, he also expressed the need to ensure that the asylum system is not misused. “Our capacity to do that means we need to properly identify who needs the most help, while pushing back against those who might be using the asylum path as a shortcut to gain Canadian permanent residency or citizenship,” Trudeau stated during a recent United Nations press conference.
Concerns over exploitation of the system
Immigration Minister Marc Miller described the situation as an “alarming trend,” noting that many international students are using the asylum process as a “backdoor entry” into Canada. He urged universities and colleges to enhance their screening practices to prevent potential exploitation of the international student program. Miller suggested that his department is exploring further reforms to address these concerns.
Rights of asylum claimants
An Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada spokesperson reiterated that all asylum claimants have the right to have their claims heard, although this does not guarantee they will be allowed to remain in Canada. Applicants for temporary residence must demonstrate sufficient ties to their home country and intent to leave Canada when their status expires.