World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. The weekly roundup includes research, stories, and events of interest to the Canadian immigration and settlement community. This content has been created by WES and is reproduced here with their permission, in partnership.
Immigration Minister says ‘not everyone is welcome’ to come to Canada as concerns grow about U.S. deportation plans (Globe & Mail)
Canada is bracing for shifts in U.S. immigration policy under President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to deport millions of undocumented migrants. The appointments of Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy and Tom Homan as “border czar” signal a more aggressive stance, including potential family detentions, sparking fears of increased deportations that could impact Canada. Immigration Minister Marc Miller stresses the importance of secure borders and legal entry.
Concerns are mounting, particularly from Quebec Premier François Legault and immigration lawyers, about a possible surge in asylum seekers crossing irregularly from the U.S. in response to stricter policies. In preparation, Canada is bolstering border security and facing calls to revise the Safe Third Country Agreement to close a 14-day loophole exploited by irregular asylum claimants. Immigration lawyers warn that inaction could lead to increased human smuggling and hardship for migrants.
Public sentiment in Canada shows growing skepticism about the country’s ability to accommodate more refugees, with pressures on housing and public services cited as key issues. A recent poll reveals that most Canadians support reducing refugee intake, underscoring concerns about managing rising immigration levels.
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Nearly 14,000 asylum claims filed by international students in Canada so far in 2024 (Globe and Mail)
Nearly 14,000 asylum claims were filed by international students in Canada in the first nine months of 2024, marking a significant rise. This surge occurs despite a drop in new study permits, raising concerns about potential misuse of the asylum system. Immigration Minister Marc Miller attributes the increase to fraudulent claims, suggesting some students are being misled by immigration consultants seeking to exploit loopholes. Critics argue that federal policy changes, such as tighter permanent residency rules, are driving students to seek asylum as an alternative path to stay in Canada. Refugee advocates warn against scapegoating students, citing systemic pressures and financial hardships they face. Institutions with high asylum claim numbers, like Conestoga College and Niagara College, deny awareness of any student involvement in asylum claims. The federal government is under scrutiny for its handling of international student policies and their broader implications for Canada’s immigration system.
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Failure to Launch: The Economic and Social Costs of Youth Unemployment and their Long-term Impact (The King’s Trust)
Canada is at risk of chronic youth underemployment. Currently, youth unemployment is at 14.5 percent, the highest levels seen in over a decade, with nearly 850,000 young people not in employment, education, or training. Many youth including those who are immigrants, refugees, and/or racialized, face these challenges more closely despite higher levels of education attainment. This may be due to factors including lack of foreign credential recognition and inadequate access to social capital. For many immigrant youth arriving to Canada, rates of skills underutilization are much higher for those with foreign degrees compared to immigrant youth who chose to study in Canada. Additionally, bias against foreign transcripts and non-Canadian work experience continues to be a well-documented barrier. Inaction could trigger severe economic consequences for the country, such as a GDP shortfall of nearly 18.5 billion, worsening mental health, elevated crime rates, and an unskilled and inexperienced future workforce amid other labour market concerns. Recommendations to bolster the next generation of workers include modernizing employment policies, incentives for employers, and intersectional data collection on youth underemployment trends.
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Impact of the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan on Canada’s Housing Gap (PBO)
A report from the Parliamentary Budget Office of Canada (PBO) highlights impact predictions following the new immigration levels plan. In an effort to ease pressures on housing, infrastructure, and other social services, the federal government announced drastic reductions to immigration targets for both permanent and temporary streams, given explosive growth in recent years. According to report findings, levels reductions will cut the need for new housing units in half by 2030, trimming the housing gap by 534,000 units (45 percent). The housing gap in 2030 is projected to be 658,000 in line with the number of units expected to be built by this time. The PBO cautions that to reduce the housing gap to 658,000 by 2030, Canada will need to build about 2.3 million homes: reflecting an average of 390,000 per year for the next five years.
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