**Canada Promises Crackdown on Student Visa Abuse Amid India Human Smuggling Allegations**
The Canadian government has vowed to address student visa abuse following accusations from Indian authorities of a “well-planned conspiracy” exploiting Canadian student visas to smuggle Indian nationals into the United States.
### Allegations of Systematic Abuse
India’s Directorate of Enforcement, a central agency investigating money laundering, alleges that a sophisticated criminal network in India has been using Canadian student visas to facilitate human smuggling. The operation reportedly targeted over 100 Canadian colleges and universities. Indian nationals, once in Canada, were quickly transported across the border into the U.S., bypassing any educational attendance requirements.
According to officials, individuals paid up to $100,000 each to be smuggled across the U.S. border.
### Tragic Case Highlights Crisis
One high-profile case involved Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, a 39-year-old man who attempted to cross into the U.S. with his wife and two young children in January 2022. The family tragically perished while trekking through the freezing wilderness from Manitoba to Minnesota, with temperatures plunging to 36 degrees below zero. The discovery of their frozen bodies sparked outrage in both India and Canada, highlighting the dangers of human smuggling.
The incident revealed the extent of illegal migration networks in India, where smugglers openly advertise their services in rural villages. Many families sell their homes and land to afford the exorbitant fees demanded by these criminal organizations.
### Diplomatic Tensions Escalate
The issue has further strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India, which have deteriorated in recent years. Tensions heightened after Canada accused India of involvement in the 2023 assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Indian officials have since accused Canada of enabling large-scale human smuggling through lax oversight of its student visa program.
### Canadian Response
Canadian officials have defended their international student program, describing it as “well-managed.” However, they acknowledged the need for reforms to prevent abuse. Pari Johnston, president of Colleges and Institutes Canada, pledged to address systemic issues. Meanwhile, some provincial leaders, such as Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities, criticized federal inaction and demanded stricter border control measures.
Experts, including former Canada Border Services Agency officer Kelly Sundberg, warned that immigration fraud has reached “staggering” levels. Sundberg attributed the problem to insufficient resources and outdated technology compared to U.S. border enforcement.
Robert Huish, an associate professor at Dalhousie University, highlighted the role of fraudulent private colleges in facilitating the smuggling trade. “Some of these institutions are barely operational, existing only as fronts for visa paperwork,” he said.
### U.S. Pressure
Canada also faces pressure from the United States to tighten its immigration policies. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened economic consequences if Canada and Mexico fail to curb illegal migration and drug trafficking into the U.S.
The Canadian government has pledged decisive action, aiming to restore the integrity of its immigration system and address the broader implications of the crisis.
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