Immigration Turmoil: Indian Students Rally Against Policy Shifts in PEI, Canada

A dry hunger strike has been threatened by several Indian students during their continuous demonstrations against immigration rules amendments on Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada. This type of protest involves considerable health risks by fasting from food and water. Changes in provincial legislation have left many Indian students at danger of being deported from Canada. Starting on May 9, students have been fasting from eating for four days running. Sixty protesters recently voiced their dissatisfaction in front of the Colest Building at the PEI legislature, including Jaspreet Singh Sivia.

Sivia charged that the government was upsetting the lives of those who were already working for permanent status in Canada. Claiming the administration has ignored their complaints, he attacked their inaction. A couple of Indian students also spoke on the matter in the Parliament of Prince Edward Island. Should their demands not be fulfilled, the demonstrators have threatened to intensify their actions.

They mostly want those who entered before July 2023 to be excluded from immigration restrictions. Apparently, the new immigration laws have already caused over fifty Indian students to leave Canada. Another student who was protesting, Rupinder Pal Singh, cited incidents of abuse Indian students had to deal with, such as being thrown things while they were sleeping. Singh bemoaned the difference in tuition between Canadian and overseas students.

The Prince Edward Island administration just announced changes to the Provincial Nominee Program including a decrease in the number of workers qualified for permanent residency. Extensions of visas will mostly be given to construction and healthcare professionals who are seen to be essential to the province.