Punjabi Youth in Canada face uncertain future amid immigration policy crisis

Vancouver: Nearly half a million Punjabi youth in Canada are grappling with uncertainty due to immigration policies implemented during former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tenure.

The government’s capping of study permits, permanent residency (PR) enrollments, and stricter rules, including changes to the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), have severely impacted international students, particularly those of Punjabi origin.

As of September 30, 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada reported a backlog of 1,097,000 applications, with around 40% of these involving individuals of Punjabi descent.

Many applicants face the risk of deportation as their work visas near expiration while their PR applications remain unprocessed.

Sumit Kumar, a resident of Canada for four years, expressed his frustration, stating, “The rules are becoming stricter, and there’s no hope for my PR application to be approved anytime soon.”

The recent resignation of Trudeau has intensified concerns about the future of immigration policies.

Immigration expert Surinder Singh said that Punjabi youth face limited options: living illegally in Canada or returning to India. A significant number are also attempting to cross into the United States.

Over the past year, more than 46,000 individuals have been apprehended at the US-Canada border.

The crisis has sparked protests by students in provinces like Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia, as they demand resolution and clarity on their immigration status.