Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Canada Students Face Removal Orders After Protest Checks
Many international students in Alberta took courses they believed could lead to work permits.
About 1,500 students later lost those permits after immigration officials said non-credit courses did not qualify.
The students say the rule was clarified after they had already enrolled.
They also say their school had told them the change would not affect them.
During a Calgary protest, police checked some people’s identification after bylaw problems occurred.
Border officials then asked some protesters to attend interviews and said some might have to leave Canada.
Rights groups say using these checks at a protest could frighten people from speaking up.
Officials say people who do not have permission to study or work must follow Canada’s immigration rules.
More than 250 rights groups urged Canada to pause removal orders and independently review officials’ handling of a Calgary student protest.
Calgary police said officers checked identification after some protesters blocked a pavement and erected unauthorized structures, then shared details with the Canada Border Services Agency.
The Canada Border Services Agency said 20 people underwent status checks and 12 were identified as possibly inadmissible under immigration law.
The dispute began after about 1,500 Portage College students lost access to post-graduation work permits under clarified eligibility guidance for non-credit courses.
Students say they enrolled before the guidance change, received conflicting advice and outcomes, and are running out of a 90-day period to secure new status.
- Who
- International students, including Indian nationals; Calgary police; the Canada Border Services Agency; federal immigration officials; and more than 250 rights groups.
- What
- Students affected by rejected post-graduation work permits received or faced removal-related orders after officials checked identities at a Calgary protest.
- When
- The protest occurred on August 12; rights groups sent their letter on September 2; immigration guidance was changed on June 24, 2026.
- Where
- The protest took place in Calgary’s Saddle Ridge area, and affected students attended Portage College sites in Alberta.
- Why
- The dispute followed the application of eligibility guidance stating that graduates of non-credit programs do not qualify for post-graduation work permits.
Students and Rights Groups
Authorities and Institutional Position
Use of immigration checks at protest
Students and Rights Groups
Rights groups and advocates say police and border checks at the demonstration intimidated migrants and could discourage people from speaking publicly.
Authorities and Institutional Position
Calgary police said officers intervened over alleged bylaw issues, while the Canada Border Services Agency said it conducted status checks and required people without permission to study or work to leave.
Timing of permit eligibility guidance
Students and Rights Groups
Students say they enrolled before the June 24, 2026 update, relied on institutional assurances, and should not have been affected retroactively.
Authorities and Institutional Position
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said the update clarified an existing rule that graduates of non-credit programs do not qualify for post-graduation work permits.
Consistency of decisions
Students and Rights Groups
Students say people from the same intake and course received different outcomes, including approvals, refusals, and withdrawn permits.
Authorities and Institutional Position
The articles do not provide a detailed explanation from federal officials for the differing outcomes.
- Rights-group letter
- More than 250 rights groups called for an independent review and a pause on removal orders.
- Students affected
- About 1,500 people who completed non-credit courses at Portage College sites lost access to post-graduation work permits.
- Identification checks
- Police shared identification details with the Canada Border Services Agency after addressing alleged bylaw violations.
- CBSA referrals
- The agency said 20 people had their status checked and 12 were flagged as possibly inadmissible.
- Guidance date
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada changed its published guidance on June 24, 2026.
- Grace period
- Affected permit holders were described as being within a 90-day period to arrange new status.
- Individual legal challenge
- Gurpreet Singh said he received a one-year exclusion order and has filed for judicial review.