Twelve international students at Calgary protest flagged for possible inadmissibility by CBSA
Police called the Canada Border Services Agency to verify immigration status at a Calgary student protest, resulting in 12 participants being labeled possibly inadmissible.
A protest by international students in Calgary's Saddletowne Circle prompted the Calgary Police Service to request assistance from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to verify participants' immigration status. CBSA officers reviewed 20 protestors and flagged 12 as possibly inadmissible, citing the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and instructed them to attend a later interview at a CBSA office. Police said the demonstration, which began on July 24, had been largely peaceful but raised complaints about noise, sidewalk blockage and public intoxication.
The demonstrators are demanding clearer eligibility for post-graduation work permits, a concern echoed by graduates of Portage College who report denied applications. Immigration lawyer Jatin Shory, representing the students, warned that such status checks are rare and could lead to exclusion orders requiring immediate departure from Canada. The CBSA declined to provide further details, citing privacy legislation.
Why it matters
The incident shows how immigration enforcement can intersect with peaceful protest, affecting vulnerable international students.
In this story
