Community groups urge Canada to halt deportation of student protesters

A coalition of nearly 300 labour and community groups, including Amnesty International and CUPE Ontario, has issued a public letter to federal and Alberta governments requesting a halt to the deportation of 10 international students. The groups claim these students were singled out for enforcement following protests in Calgary.

The unrest stems from approximately 1,500 graduates of Portage College who protested after being denied post-graduation work permits. The students allege that the federal government changed eligibility rules over the summer, whereas a spokesperson for Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab stated that the government only updated its website in June to clarify existing requirements.

The Migrant Rights Network argues that targeting newcomers for enforcement during protests violates Charter rights to free speech and creates a chilling effect, warning that migrants may fear participating in public meetings or picket lines due to risks to their residency status.