Category: Uncategorized

Migrant Students

Update on International Students Fight Against Deportation

On Wednesday June 14, 2023, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser held a media event and released a statement after an incredible 18 day permanent protest by Punjabi students in Toronto outside of immigration enforcement headquarters. These students have been “deemed inadmissible” or are facing inadmissibility hearings and several dozen are facing deportation. 

Continue reading to learn what was announced. Permanent solutions are still needed: permanent cancellation of deportation orders, immediate access to regularization and permanent resident status for all – sign the petition to send a message to decision makers: MigrantWorkersAlliance.org/StopDeportations

Based on the information available as of June 14, here is what we know: 

  1. There will be an 8 week case-by-case investigation by a task force of immigration and immigration enforcement officials (IRCC and CBSA) to determine who was tricked and misrepresented by these recruiters.
  2. Migrant students who have pending deportation orders will be given a temporary resident permit (TRP) and will have their deportation halted for 8 weeks as the investigation is underway.
  3. Within these 8 weeks, migrant students who are considered by the task force to be “genuine applicants’ and deemed to not know of the fraud will have their inadmissibility waived and their temporary resident permits will be extended for 3 years.
  4. Those students already deported will have a process to return to Canada.

This is a significant victory that is a direct result of sustained, courageous action by migrant students and their supporters. 

There are a number of very important issues that are unaddressed and concerns that have not been resolved: 

  1. Many of the impacted students have not yet gotten a decision on their admissibility hearings and/or have not yet been issued deportation orders. The Minister did not say that they would receive temporary resident permits (TRP). This leaves the majority of affected students in limbo.
  2. It is unclear if and how students will be able to apply for the TRP. Students may receive communication from Immigration Canada. 
  3. There are no clear details on how students who will be investigated will participate in the proceedings. It is unknown if they will be able to present a case, or have a lawyer present. The criteria has not been announced, and it is not known who the burden of proof will fall onto; i.e. it is not known if students will have to prove that they did not engage in fraud or not.
  4. The investigative process is individualized on a case-by-case basis, even as the impacted students took action collectively and demanded a political response. 
  5. It is not clear what remedies or right of appeal will be available to those deemed to have conducted fraud.
  6. Even with TRPs extended for students, there is no clarity on how people will get justice and permanent resident status. Some are already undocumented. And a 3 year temporary permit means that exploitation, denial of equal rights and protections will continue, with no guarantee that students will be invited for PR at the end. 

As more information becomes available, we will continue to update this page. Permanent solutions are still needed. We deserve a permanent cancellation of deportation orders, immediate access to regularization and permanent resident status for all – sign the petition to send a message to decision makers: MigrantWorkersAlliance.org/StopDeportations

Follow the students at Stand for Student and Naujawan Support Network for more.

Care Workers

June 18: Migrant Care Workers Assembly

In June 2024, Home Child Care Pilot (HCCP) and Home Support Worker Pilot (HSWP) programs will expire. We don’t know what program will replace it. This is a crucial moment to meet and put our heads together and make plans to win changes and fairness to immigration rules for care workers.

Join us on Sunday, June 18 at 11am in Toronto (720 Spadina Ave, Suite 202, M5S 2T9) for a meeting to discuss our demands to the government and plan for actions. All former and current care workers are welcome to join. Bring your care worker friends especially those who haven’t applied for PR or those who can’t because they are not eligible. You can also tell us what your major concerns are and what you want to be changed. We are all in this together.

Register below so that we know how many of you are coming in order for us to determine if we have enough space for everyone.

Migrant Students

Petition: Stop Deportations of International Students, Ensure Status for All

Our names are Ramanjot, Karamjit, Lovepreet, Dimple and Harpreet. We are some of the former international students who are facing deportation after being scammed by education recruiters, such as Brijesh Mishra. There’s not a lot of time left. Please support our fight for justice by sending a message to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser. Read our stories and sign the petition below.


Update on International Students Fight Against Deportation

Read here, and check regularly for updates: https://migrantworkersalliance.org/deportationupdate/

After an incredible 18 day permanent protest by Punjabi students in Toronto outside of immigration enforcement headquarters, on Wednesday June 14, 2023, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser held a media event and released a statement. Read more here about what was announced and what concerns remain.

Permanent protest ends after 18 days of incredible struggle!

Since Sunday May 28, students facing deportation have been holding down a 24/7 protest in front of immigration enforcement headquarters in Mississauga (Greater Toronto Area). Hundreds from the community have been uniting and rallying for justice. Every night, there’s a community gathering at 7pm – with food, speeches, performances – but you can drop by any time. Join the fight for justice!

6900 Airport Road, closest to entrance 93
https://goo.gl/maps/F21q4zSnTyy97Sdk8

Follow the students at Stand for Student & Naujawan Support Network to see more!

June 8: Urgent Action at Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino’s Office!

11am
Thursday June 8
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino’s office
511 Lawrence Ave W
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/NsEumZsKVtUFu2MS6

Join a rally to stop the deportation of international students and call for permanent resident status for all. More than a 100 international students are facing deportation after being tricked by education recruiters. Most of these students have spent more than half a decade in this country, have completed studies, work and live here. Time is running out, Lovepreet Singh’s deportation is in less than a week.

Let’s stand for justice together.

If you’ve questions, contact:
* Sarom: sarom@migrantworkersalliance.org, 416-887-8315
* Gurjeet: 647-575-9607
* Bikram: 647-612-5161

Our stories

Read more about our struggles and stories here:

Karamjeet Kaur

My name is Karamjeet Kaur, and I am facing deportation on May 29th, 2023. Why? I am being punished because my immigration agent tricked me and submitted a fake school admission letter back in 2018 when he applied for my permit. I have been living in Canada for the past five years, I did everything for this country and it is my home now. I did my study in Edmonton College Norquest and got the post graduate work permit. For the past four years, I am working at as a full-time supervisor at a warehouse.

I applied for my permanent residency, but to my shock, I got called in for an interview with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). They told me about that fake offer letter, which I had no idea about before. I never thought that this could happen. I did everything according to the rules, and even got my post-graduate work permit. But Canada still wants to deport me and hundreds of other students.

I have very less time left. CBSA issued me a deportation plane ticket for May 29. But I am still taking action to get justice, so that I can stay in Canada. I applied for a Humanitarian and Compassionate application, and I am asking to get a stay on my deportation until I get the decision on my application, which is in process. I am requesting Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and Immigration Minister Sean Fraser to look into this and do the right thing to ensure justice for me and the other students who are victims of this fraud. Please support us by signing the petition and sharing with everybody you know.

Farm Workers

Current + Former Farmworkers: MAY WI TALLAWAH

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government are *finally* discussing status and equal rights for undocumented migrants (regularization), including former farmworkers, this month. We are close to winning equal rights, but we can’t cross the finish line without YOU!

Here are some action options – what are YOU willing to do to win? Choose an action below and invite a friend to join you!

In-person actions

Alternative actions

  • 3. Sign the petition at StatusForAll.ca and ask a friend to do the same. Post the link regularly on Facebook or share on WhatsApp to remind your friends to sign and share. For every person who adds their name, an email is automatically sent to the Cabinet Ministers.
  • 4. Call Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at 613-992-4211 and leave a message telling him to support an inclusive program to give permanent resident status to all undocumented people with no caps or exclusion. Tap here for script. Ask a friend to call with you!
  • 6. Outside of Canada and can’t make a call? Record a video or voice note, or take a photo, asking Cabinet Ministers to do the right thing. Use the same script as the phone calls. Send your video, audio, or photo on WhatsApp to 905-324-2840.
  • 7. Do you have an idea for an action not listed? Share it with your organizer on WhatsApp at 905-324-2840 or through email at kit@migrantworkersalliance.org

We have just a few weeks to make sure each of the Cabinet Ministers hear from thousands of us, so that they are pressured to do the right thing. Let’s go!

Upcoming farmworker meetings

  • May 7, 4-6pm – Vineyard workers organizing meeting
  • May 10, 8pm Toronto time/7pm Jamaica time – Monthly members meeting for current & former farmworkers
    • Not a member yet? Take an action above and WhatsApp “JOIN MWAC” to 905-324-2840 to learn more about our membership process.

Care Workers

Migrant Caregivers Mother’s Day Picnic

Come and join other care workers like you in celebrating Mothers Day on Sunday, May 14 from 12 – 4pm at High Park for an afternoon filled with fun. Let share stories of struggles and make plans while sharing food, drinks and music. Bring your care worker friends. You can also bring your favorite food to share. We have a back-up location in case of rain.
When: Sunday, May 14, Mother’s Day
Location & Time: High Park @12 – 4 PM.

Bring your caregiver friends
Snacks, Games, Conversations
Let us know you will be there!

Trabajador@s Agrícolas

¡Justicia para l@s trabajador@s migrantes de los viñedos!

¿Es usted trabajador de una granja de uvas para vino que quiere salarios más altos, un trato justo, una mejor vivienda y estatus permanente para poder estar junto a su familia?

¡No está sol@! Trabajador@s agrícolas como usted se están uniendo para actuar y lograr el cambio que se merece.

¿Se quiere unir? Use este formulario privado y confidencial para votar sobre los cambios que desea, luego únase a la reunión de organización en junio para obtener más información sobre cómo podemos ganar junt@s.

Todo lo que comparta es privado y confidencial. Su información nunca será compartida sin su consentimiento.

Asamblea: Actualización sobre la campaña de regularización y que sigue

Acompáñenos el jueves 27 de abril a las 8 p. m. (hora de Toronto) para una reunión en línea abierta y anónima para inmigrantes indocumentad@s y simpatizantes en todo el país. ¡Daremos una actualización sobre la regularización, responderemos todas sus preguntas y compartiremos lo que se debe hacer para que ganemos!

UNASE A LA ASAMBLEA A LAS 8PM HORA DE ONTARIO AQUI: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89999588158