The Canadian government has committed to strengthening its international student program and tightening border security following accusations from Indian authorities linking some Canadian colleges to human-smuggling operations. These allegations emerged after Indian investigators uncovered a network using fraudulent student visas to facilitate illegal border crossings into the United States.
Indian officials have described a “well-planned conspiracy” involving two organizations that referred thousands of prospective students to Canadian colleges, only for many to later abandon their studies and attempt to cross into the U.S. illegally. The scheme was connected to the tragic deaths of the Patel family, who froze to death near the U.S.-Canada border in Manitoba in January 2022 while attempting an illegal crossing. Each member of the Patel family was reportedly charged exorbitant fees, ranging from $93,000 to $102,000, to facilitate their journey.
Canada’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) acknowledged a rise in abuse of temporary visas and student permits, including cases linked to human smuggling. In response, the IRCC claims to have implemented measures that have reduced illegal crossings by 84% since mid-2024. Additional steps include barring identified abusers from entering Canada for five years and increasing the rate of study permit refusals for applicants from regions with high levels of fraud.
This revelation has placed a spotlight on over 112 Canadian colleges alleged to have ties to the fraudulent network. While publicly funded institutions insist they follow strict guidelines for international student admissions, the role of private career colleges and independent recruiters has raised concerns. Advocacy groups and legal experts are calling for enhanced regulations to prevent misuse of Canada’s education system.