VANCOUVER – Canada often sees itself as a safe and welcoming place for newcomers, shaped by generations of immigration. But recent shifts in public opinion are putting that reputation to the test, and now many are calling for Large-scale deportations.
A 2024 poll by Leger, done for the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS), found that nearly half of Canadians now support large-scale deportations as a way to tackle illegal migration.
At the same time, 65% think the country is taking in too many immigrants. That’s double what it was just two years ago — the highest level ever recorded. These results highlight growing frustration with how the government is handling immigration, especially concerns about undocumented migrants, visa overstays, and abuse of the system.
Public Concern on the Rise
The Leger/ACS poll from late 2024 shows a country facing real challenges with immigration. Support for mass deportations now matches that seen in the United States. The feeling that immigration levels are too high is shared by people in cities and rural towns, across all age groups and political views.
Social media, especially platforms like X, have become a place where these frustrations are on full display. Many posts focus on how immigration may be making it harder to find housing, get medical care, or access other public services.
Canada’s population has grown quickly in recent years. From 2015 to 2024, the country’s ranking on the Human Development Index dropped from ninth to eighteenth. Many blame this drop on new arrivals outpacing the supply of homes and services.
The government’s plan to welcome 500,000 immigrants a year, backed by the Century Initiative, has sparked claims of poor planning. More Canadians are speaking out about undocumented migration and those who stay after their visas expire.
The Scale of the Problem
In 2024, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) removed more people than any year since 2015, spending $65.8 million on deportations, up from $56 million the year before. Even so, almost half a million foreign nationals are waiting to be removed.
The backlog is growing because of rising refugee claims and visa overstays. Ontario and Quebec handle most of these cases, with Quebec reporting nearly 200,000 people waiting for deportation.
Expired visas are a major cause for concern. By 2025, over 500,000 temporary residents — including international students and workers — will lose their legal status. Many choose to stay after their visas end, which increases the undocumented population.
The CBSA is focusing on removing those whose asylum claims were denied, but the huge number of cases and plans to encourage over a million temporary residents to leave in the next two years have stretched resources.
International Students and Refugee Claims
Canada’s international student program, once seen as a key part of its immigration policy, now faces criticism for being open to abuse. Some students, especially from India, use student permits to enter Canada and then claim refugee status.
Refugee claims from students hit a high of almost 20,000 in mid-2024 before dropping to about 12,000 in early 2025 after enforcement got tougher. Critics say using asylum claims to delay deportation slows the system and increases costs for taxpayers.
This increase in student refugee claims is tied to weak oversight of international education. Many students end up at low-quality or fake colleges, found mostly in Ontario and British Columbia, that care more about collecting fees than teaching.
Investigations show some recruiters and consultants, often targeting Indian students, promise an easy path to permanent residency using these questionable schools. While the CBSA and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have shut down some of these schools, problems continue, and public anger over visa abuse remains strong.
Visa Abuse and the Role of Indian Nationals
Indian nationals make up a large part of Canada’s international student and temporary worker populations and have become central in the debate about visa abuse.
In the US, over 1,500 Indian nationals were deported last year during a crackdown on immigration offences. While Canadian numbers are less clear, social media posts point to similar worries here, especially around students and workers who overstay their visas or find loopholes in the system.
The situation goes beyond students. Some temporary workers, allowed in under programs like the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, have been accused of using fake documents or marrying Canadians to get legal status.
While this isn’t limited to any one group, Indian applicants are often at the centre of this debate because of their high numbers. Many Canadians want stricter checks and better enforcement to stop these abuses, and above all, deportations of offenders.
Government Response Under Scrutiny
The Liberal government, first led by Justin Trudeau and now by Mark Carney, faces harsh criticism for how it’s managed immigration. During the 2024 election, the Liberals promised deportations and, to tackle public concerns about high immigration numbers and system abuse, including cracking down on fake colleges and visa overstays.
But critics say there’s been little real change. Carney, a former Bank of Canada governor and Century Initiative co-founder, has raised questions about whether the party is actually planning reforms or just trying to win over the political centre.
Plans to reduce the number of temporary residents are ambitious, but many say details are missing. The government wants to encourage voluntary departures, but with 500,000 visas expiring this year, actual enforcement will matter most.
The CBSA’s goal to increase annual removals from 16,000 to 20,000 by 2027 is a start, but it’s not enough to clear the backlog. Border rules have also gotten stricter in response to pressure from the United States, especially from President Donald Trump.
In January 2025, only 600 people were stopped crossing into the US, down from 900 the year before. Still, more migrants are coming to Canada after facing deportation in the US, which is making things harder for both countries.
A Country at a Turning Point
The rising calls for mass deportations show deep concerns about how Canada manages immigration. For many, the main issue isn’t immigration itself, but the feeling that rules are ignored, resources are overwhelmed, and promises aren’t kept.
Those who think Canada admits too many immigrants point to higher housing prices, packed hospitals, and crowded social programs. Supporters of mass deportations believe it’s the only way to restore order for those who avoid legal channels or misuse programs such as student visas.
Canada’s history as a country built by immigrants makes the debate even more complex. Many say mass deportations could hurt people who contribute to society, even if they lack legal status.
Others are critical of the “safe third country agreement” with the US, which limits asylum options for those seeking safety. Finding the right balance between enforcement and compassion won’t be easy, especially with rising migration worldwide.
As 2025 moves ahead, the Liberal government faces tough choices. Public opinion is shifting, and the US is stepping up its deportations.
Canada must choose how it wants to respond. For now, Canadians are making their voices heard through polls and social media: it’s time for change, and there isn’t much time left.
