Data Reveals Over 12,000 International Students Claim Asylum
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Loading... - charlie lucas
- 04 Oct 2024
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Recent data reveals that over 12,000 international students in Canada have applied for asylum within the first nine months of 2024, marking a significant increase. These students submitted their asylum claims as their visas were set to expire, a trend that Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller described as "alarming" during an interview on the television program The West Block.
The surge in asylum claims coincides with a broader trend of growing international student numbers in Canada. In 2023, the country saw a record 1,028,850 study permit holders, marking a 29% increase from the previous year.
The province of Ontario alone hosted over half of these students. In response to this rapid increase, the Canadian government has introduced measures to reduce the number of international study permits being issued.
In an effort to address the strain on housing and stabilize the influx of students, Canada implemented a two-year cap on international student permits, aiming for a 35% reduction in approved permits for 2024 compared to 2023. This new cap extends to students pursuing master's and PhD degrees, with a goal of issuing 437,000 study permits in both 2025 and 2026.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has acknowledged the growing pressure on the system, noting that the global rise in displaced people is contributing to an increase in asylum claims. The government is determined to safeguard the integrity of the immigration system while still supporting the international students' aspirations for success.
