Canadian law enforcement authorities have launched an investigation into the use of fraudulent documentation to obtain study permits for Canada. The investigation was initiated due to concerns that individuals claiming to come for higher education were actually involved in gang activity. According to a letter from the Vice-President of the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) Intelligence and Enforcement Branch, Aaron McCrorie, the CBSA had been investigating organized crime groups in 2018 and had noticed a trend of students not attending school and becoming involved in criminal activities and gangs.

Based on tips received from the public in 2020, the CBSA identified over 2,000 cases where fraudulent documents may have been used to obtain a student visa. Working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), they narrowed down the cases to approximately 300 cases of concern. The investigation has uncovered that several former international students from India potentially face deportation from Canada for obtaining study permits based on falsified documents provided by agents, mainly in Punjab. However, seven of these students have been granted interim relief by the IRCC and have been given three-year work permits.

Additionally, one student who voluntarily left Canada is seeking to return. One of the agents responsible for fabricating documents, Brijesh Mishra from the Jalandhar-based firm EMSA Education and Migration Services Australia, was apprehended and charged by Canadian authorities in June. Mishra is currently detained in a holding facility in British Columbia. Interestingly, among those under investigation is gangster Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, who came to Canada as a student in 2017.

In May of last year, he claimed responsibility for the murder of singer-turned-politician Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moose Wala, in an online post. To address this issue, a task force comprising officers from the CBSA and IRCC is currently examining admissions based on falsified documents. Their goal is to identify genuine students by thoroughly evaluating each case's specific circumstances. This investigation sheds light on a critical issue within Canada's study permit system.

The government is taking decisive steps to address the fraudulent use of documentation and prevent individuals involved in criminal activities from entering the country under false pretenses. The integrity of Canada's higher education system is a top priority, and further measures will likely be implemented to ensure its protection.