Over 11,000 foreign students in Canada applied for refugee status within the first eight months of 2024, following a federal decision to reduce new study permits by 35%. According to figures from the Department of Immigration, 11,630 foreign students claimed asylum between January and August 2024, averaging over 340 applications per week. The surge coincided with Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s announcement on January 22, 2024, regarding the nationwide reduction of study permits.
A System Under Strain
Minister Miller had previously criticized some educational institutions for recruiting large numbers of international students, alleging that many showed little interest in academic pursuits.
“Ontario’s education system has seen over 10,000 asylum claims in the last three years,” Miller said during a press conference on February 27, 2024. “While I don’t reproach individuals for exercising their rights, such claims should not stem from systemic issues.”
Colleges such as Conestoga College in Kitchener and Seneca College in Toronto were cited as having some of the highest asylum claims. In 2024, Conestoga College emerged as the leader in hosting international students across Canada, with a remarkable total of 40,565 students. Trailing closely behind was Seneca College, accommodating 23,530 international learners.
Understanding the Spike in Asylum Claims
In its report to the Senate national finance committee, the Department of Immigration noted that some temporary residents, including students, apply for asylum due to changes in their home countries. The report stopped short of labeling the claims as fraudulent.
“Some temporary residents come to Canada as genuine visitors, students, or workers and then make an asylum claim because of developments in their country of origin,” the report stated.
The surge in asylum claims came at a time when Canada’s international student population stood at 1,040,985, as per the most recent data available from two years ago.
Implications and the Path Forward
The reduction in study permits, coupled with the increase in refugee claims, highlights systemic challenges within Canada’s immigration and education systems. As colleges and policymakers navigate these pressures, questions arise about how to balance the country’s reputation as a global education hub with the integrity of its immigration pathways.
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