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Canada faces a major contradiction in its immigration policies. Thousands of international students, once celebrated as "ideal immigrants," are now . As a migration policy researcher and former international student, I have watched this predicament unfold with growing concern.

reveal a surge in . The claims rose from 1,810 in 2018 to nearly 12,000 in 2023, with another 13,660 filed in the first nine months of 2024.

There are multiple reasons why international students in Canada may end up seeking asylum. Some experts suggest heightened to the influence of immigration consultants or others advising them to apply for asylum.

As Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) acknowledged in a statement in September 2024, some "."

While the stories behind individual asylum claims remain unclear, demonstrates how sudden policy shifts can force students to seek alternative paths to remain in the host country, even through systems not designed for their circumstances.

Canada's abruptly shifting policies have exposed a breach of trust at the heart of Canada's immigration system. The rise in asylum claims reflects Canada's of support for those it actively encouraged to invest in futures here.

Decades-long policy

For decades, . This was not merely implied, it was actively encouraged. As a result, students have invested savings, uprooted their lives, acquired jobs and built communities in Canada, only to find themselves facing an uncertain future.

This breach of trust highlights what is in effect . By encouraging them to invest in Canada as a gateway to permanent residency, the country created expectations it is now failing to fulfill.

How Canada built expectations

Canada's immigration system has long positioned international students as ideal candidates for permanent residency. For decades, policies and public messaging have framed education in Canada as a pathway to a permanent future, encouraging students to see their time here as an investment in long-term settlement. This messaging has been echoed across government initiatives and public statements.

For instance, in 2021, then : "Your status may be temporary, but your contributions are lasting—we want you to stay."

The comments were made as Canada rolled out a program to grant permanent residence to 90,000 recent international graduates and some temporary foreign workers.

Similarly, official documents like the explicitly frame international students as a vital "pool of talent" for addressing demographic and economic needs.

This sentiment was also central to the , which described international students as "excellent candidates for permanent residency," citing their Canadian education and work experience as key advantages.

Educational institutions reinforced this messaging. , persuading students to invest heavily in tuition and their futures in Canada.

Statistics supported this narrative: valued international students' contributions at $30.9 billion annually, including more than 360,000 jobs. High rates of successful transitions to permanent residency further validated the belief that education in Canada was the first step to building a life here.

The broken pact

In recent years, Canada has systematically dismantled the enabling environment it once cultivated. and the have created significant barriers to permanent residence.

It would appear that the severe disruption faced by international students caused by these policy changes. Their lives have been derailed by a government that encouraged students to invest in Canada, only to shift the rules mid-course.

For many students, returning home is not an option—return is financially and personally untenable. International students invest years and significant resources in Canada. They have established budding careers and key relationships. They've built communities in Canada, and made .

A policy and moral failure

This issue is not merely a policy failure—it is a moral one. Canada's unwritten pact with international students created a bond of trust. Breaking that trust jeopardizes not only the futures of thousands of people but also Canada's reputation as a fair and welcoming destination.

The stakes are high. Canada faces pressing , including an aging population and labor shortages in key sectors like health care and skilled trades.

International students, already integrated into Canadian society, are essential to solving these problems. Alienating them undermines both economic goals and the moral credibility of Canada's immigration system.

At a crossroads: From crisis to reform

Canada must decide whether to honor the commitments it made, explicitly and implicitly, to international students or to continue down a path of short-sighted policy shifts. Restoring trust and creating transparent, predictable pathways to permanent residency is essential.

Aligning durations with permanent residency application timelines is a critical first step. Standardizing processing times and tailoring immigration streams to meet labor market needs will provide needed stability. Above all, future reforms must be clear, consistent and aligned with the promises Canada has historically made.

It is time to honor the pact and rebuild the trust that international students placed in this country. The future of Canada's immigration system depends on it.

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