Hundreds of Punjabi students in Canada have taken to the streets in protest against the government’s decision to impose limits on immigration for workers. Fearing deportation, these students, who had arrived with hopes of a bright future, are now expressing their frustration publicly.
The new policy, which restricts the number of international students eligible for post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) and other work-related immigration pathways, has caused widespread anger, particularly among the Punjabi student community.
Many students, who planned to apply for permanent residency after completing their studies, now find themselves in limbo, with their dreams of settling in Canada dashed.
Protests that began in Toronto have spread to cities like Brampton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Montreal.
Demonstrators carried signs reading “We deserve a future” and “Stop targeting international students,” expressing frustration over the abrupt changes that they feel unfairly penalize them after years of investment in their education.
In Brampton, students have been holding a permanent protest on Queen Street since late August, gaining widespread support.
According to reports, Punjabi singers, including Rupinder Handa and Guru Randhawa, have visited the protest site, lending their support.
Moreover, 54 trade unions under the Ontario Federation of Workers and Migrants, as well as advocacy groups like the Filipino migrant workers’ association, have backed the protests.
Bikram, head of the Naujawan Support Network, which leads the Brampton protests, said, “We came here with dreams of building a future, followed the rules, paid our fees, and now they are shutting us out. It’s unfair.”
Mehakdeep Singh, a former student from Mansa, Punjab, now facing deportation, shared his frustration, saying, “I spent six years studying, working, and paying taxes to earn enough CRS points for permanent residency, but the government has been unjust.” Student leaders estimate that around 130,000 international students could be affected by the policy’s refusal to extend PGWPs.
