SECURITY CHECKS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Immigration law
24 Dec
Individuals seeking permanent residency,
citizenship, or the International Experience Canada program (often referred to
as the working holiday visa) must provide police certificates. These documents
alert Canadian authorities to any potential criminal history in the applicant's
home country.
However, international students are not
required to fetch police certificates from their home countries before
heading to Canada because who wouldn’t want to cross the border without a
little mystery? Perhaps it’s time to rethink that policy; after all, a little
background check might save us from an unexpected classroom drama. Right?
But in all seriousness, applications
should be thoroughly vetted from around the globe for any grounds of
inadmissibility to ensure the safety of Canadians.
According to the spokesperson,
immigration officials collaborate with law enforcement agencies, such as the
RCMP, to conduct thorough security screenings aimed at identifying individuals
who could pose a risk to Canadians. This screening process may include checking
criminal histories and could require students to provide biometrics, such as
fingerprints and photos.
“That’s not sufficient,” stated P.E.I.
Senator Percy Downe, who once served as chief of staff to former Liberal Prime
Minister Jean Chrétien. He has taken up the cause for more rigorous security
checks following an incident where an international student working at an
office supply store in Charlottetown sexually assaulted a local woman.
He argues that all international students
should be mandated to provide a police certificate to prevent
inadvertently allowing individuals with criminal backgrounds into Canada. He
believes that relying on a "case-by-case" approach could let some bad
actors slip through, especially given the high volume of applicants.
We must ensure that everyone entering,
regardless of their origin, undergoes a security check. We don’t need to bring
in more criminals-we have enough of our own.
There is no solid evidence linking
immigration to an increase in crime rates. While international students often
apply for permanent residency after completing their studies, they are not
categorized as "immigrants" by the federal government This is
indicated by the Researchers from McGill University.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
has some information on how many foreign nationals, including international
students, have been deported due to criminal issues. In 2023, 511 people
received removal orders (or deportations), with 390 of those due to what the
CBSA considers "serious" crimes. This year, the numbers have already
increased, with 568 removals in the first nine months of 2024-418 of those for
serious offenses.
According to CBC newscast is currently
investigating 285 current and former international students suspected of fraud
for using fake acceptance letters from post-secondary institutions to exploit
Canada’s immigration
system. So far, about 28 individuals, some linked to organized crime, have
either been deported or left the country voluntarily as the investigation
continues.
Some international students have found
themselves in hot water for offenses like voyeurism, vandalism, and fraud. Talk
about taking "study hard, play hard" to a whole new level. While most
are just trying to navigate their new lives in Canada, a few seem to have
mistaken their student visas for a VIP pass to a life of crime.
Its heartbreaking to know that earlier this year, one
student was charged with murdering six people-four children and two adults and
another international student pleaded guilty to manslaughter after killing a
classmate over a marijuana dispute in suburban Ottawa.
Sources told CBC News that one of the
suspects in the shooting of B.C. Sikh temple leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was an
international student. Immigration Minister Marc Miller noted that a foreign
national charged last month with plotting a terror attack on Jewish sites in
New York City was also in Canada as an international student. Additionally, two
years ago, a UPEI international student pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a
customer at a Charlottetown Staples store.
We need to ensure we know who’s entering
the country and that no one is being defrauded. A police background check should
be a basic requirement. It is hard to understand why the government
hasn’t made it mandatory-it’s just common sense.
We have an incredible country, and at
the very least, we should ask these students for a police record check. That's
what Canadians expect. After all, it’s a privilege to come to Canada-like
winning the lottery, but with colder winters and free healthcare.
In practical terms, it’s unclear if we
can completely eliminate crime, as those intent on harming others may simply
lie or create fake documents to enter Canada. So, I’m skeptical about how
effective such measures would really be, miller noted in an interview. This was
also the argument during a Commons committee meeting, where he stated that they
depend on their security partners to assess the risk posed by these
individuals.
And then, there’s a concern that many
international students lack the local knowledge needed to protect themselves,
something many Canadians might take for granted. Universities and colleges
aren’t prepared for this at all.
There is significant evidence showing
that international students often fall victim to various crimes, including
scams by fraudsters, blackmailers, and neglectful landlords. Some students have
even been targeted for prostitution and have suffered sexual assaults. There
has also been a noticeable increase in hate crimes in certain areas.
Canada needs to ensure that those coming
to Canada are safe not just for Canadians but for other international students,
too. They deserve a secure environment. After all, nobody wants to study in a
place where the biggest threat is someone stealing your lunch from the fridge.
If you find yourself in an unfortunate
situation, please do not hesitate to contact RRM Law. Our legal team
is here to assist you.