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Business Standard
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Canada sees 5,500 foreign student asylum claims in 2025, up 22% from 2024
Canada is seeing record numbers of international students seeking asylum, with 2024 marking the highest ever recorded. In the first three months of 2025, 5,500 claims were filed by students, according to figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released on May 13. That's a 22 per cent rise from the same period last year. The IRCC data also show that in 2024, international students filed 20,245 asylum claims. This is nearly double the number in 2023 and six times higher than in 2019. However, IRCC also said, 'The proportion of permit holders claiming asylum remains small compared to total permits issued.' India Nigeria Guinea Ghana Democratic Republic of Congo This information was shared by the IRCC in response to Global News' questions on May 20. Reasons for the rise Many students arrive on study permits with hopes of starting a new life. When traditional immigration routes close, some see asylum as a last resort. Some also face exploitative conditions at private colleges, described by some as 'diploma mills,' which leave them with degrees that hold little weight in the job market. Darshan Maharaja, a Canada-based immigration analyst, told Business Standard, 'Many Indians could choose that option. Apart from the geographical proximity, they are likely to be encouraged by the fact that the political Left, which has sympathies for would-be deportees, is dominant in Canada. Moreover, there are individuals and groups who are willing to help them.' Student asylum claims by college Data from Global News show the top colleges where international students filed asylum claims in 2024: Conestoga College: 720 claims Seneca College: 650 claims Université du Québec à Chicoutimi: 500 claims Niagara College: 495 claims Collège Ellis – Trois-Rivières: 475 claims Université du Québec à Chicoutimi said, 'We are not in a position to know the intentions of international students.' Meanwhile, Ellis College warned it may stop accepting students from 'certain French-speaking African countries' unless there is clearer communication from immigration authorities. Government's move to reduce numbers Prime Minister Mark Carney is under pressure to reduce the number of international students and temporary residents to ease the strain on housing and social services. On May 2, 2025, Carney announced a plan to cap the number of temporary residents, including students, at under five per cent of Canada's population by 2027. That figure currently stands at seven per cent. 'This will help ease strains on housing, on public infrastructure and social services,' said Carney. To achieve this, Ottawa cut study permits by 40 per cent in 2024, reducing the number to around 360,000. It also restricted work hours for foreign students and tightened spousal work permit rules. Former Immigration Minister Marc Miller called the system 'overheated' and said some colleges were offering low-value credentials. India leads in foreign student numbers More than 40 per cent of international students in Canada come from India. China follows with around 10 per cent. Indian students also seek asylum in the US A study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University shows that Indians had also been increasingly claiming asylum in the United States. The number rose from 9,000 in 2018 to 51,000 in 2023 — a 466 per cent increase. Is it possible for an international student to claim asylum in Canada? Yes. International students can apply for asylum in Canada if they can prove a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country. In 2023, 13,660 claims were filed by international students, up from 1,810 in 2018. Among those, 2,290 claims came from Indian nationals and 1,990 from Nigerian students. Country-wise data is not yet available for 2024, 2025.
France 24
16-05-2025
- Health
- France 24
🌟The Bright Side: Women in Ivory Coast celebrate reconstructive surgery after FGM
Adele Koue Sungbeu underwent female genital mutilation as a teenager but now holds her head up high and smiles broadly as she walks to work in Abidjan after reconstructive surgery. The 45-year-old midwife is one of 28 women from the west African country who underwent the procedure last month at a public hospital in Ivory Coast's economic capital. In charge of the surgery was obstetric surgeon Sarah Abramowicz, a leading specialist in female genital reconstruction in France. Sungbeu, who has three boys aged 22, 16 and 12 and is going through a divorce, said before the operation that her circumcision did not cause her any difficulties. But she said she felt "embarrassed" by the way partners looked at her. "They don't say anything but you feel that they're not comfortable," she added. "And that makes you feel uncomfortable." "When you look at other women, you're completely different. That's my problem. When I open my legs, it's completely flat." Sungbeu said she had been trying to get the delicate surgery to repair her clitoris and labia minora for some time. After the operation, she said she was "proud to have done it". Another woman at the clinic, who preferred not to give her name as she waited her turn, said she travelled to neighbouring Burkina Faso and paid 370,000 CFA francs ($635) for the procedure. But the operation was never carried out. "I was circumcised at the age of six by a midwife. It's hampering my relationships and my husband left because of it," said the woman, 31. 'Militant' act One of the aims of the initiative, spearheaded by the Muskoka Fund set up in 2010 by the French government, is to treat women for free in hospitals. "It shouldn't be something accessible only to those who can afford it through private doctors," said the fund's coordinator Stephanie Nadal Gueye. The mission has a budget of 60,000 euros ($67,500) and includes a significant and unprecedented training component for hospital obstetricians. Abramowicz, one of the only women working in the field in France, has trained 10 surgeons from six French-speaking African countries – Guinea, Benin, Senegal, Chad, Togo and Ivory Coast. She also brought in seven paramedics, mainly midwives, to provide comprehensive care for the 28 patients last month, including psychosocial care to prevent them being stigmatised for having undergone the procedure. A report by the UN children agency, UNICEF, last year estimated that more than 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation – 30 million more than in 2016. In Ivory Coast, one woman in three is a victim of FGM. The practice is internationally recognised as a human rights violation. 01:59 Abramowicz said her happy and proud former patients had since been sending her "10 photos a day" of their reconstructed genitals. "The value of this mission is that it has planted seeds among healthcare workers but also among these women," she said. "They should become advocates. There's something militant about getting repaired. The fight begins like that."
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Ivorian women fight FGM with reconstructive surgery
Abidjan: Adele Koue Sungbeu underwent female genital mutilation as a teenager but now holds her head up high and smiles broadly as she walks to work in Abidjan after reconstructive surgery. The 45-year-old midwife is one of 28 women from the west African country who underwent the procedure last month at a public hospital in Ivory Coast's economic capital. In charge of the surgery was obstetric surgeon Sarah Abramowicz , a leading specialist in female genital reconstruction in France. Sungbeu, who has three boys aged 22, 16 and 12 and is going through a divorce, said before the operation that her circumcision did not cause her any difficulties. But she said she felt "embarrassed" by the way partners looked at her. "They don't say anything but you feel that they're not comfortable," she added. "And that makes you feel uncomfortable." "When you look at other women, you're completely different. That's my problem. When I open my legs, it's completely flat." Sungbeu said she had been trying to get the delicate surgery to repair her clitoris and labia minora for some time. After the operation, she said she was "proud to have done it". Another woman at the clinic, who preferred not to give her name as she waited her turn, said she travelled to neighbouring Burkina Faso and paid 370,000 CFA francs ($635) for the procedure. But the operation was never carried out. "I was circumcised at the age of six by a midwife. It's hampering my relationships and my husband left because of it," said the woman, 31. - 'Militant' act - One of the aims of the initiative, spearheaded by the Muskoka Fund set up in 2010 by the French government, is to treat women for free in hospitals. "It shouldn't be something accessible only to those who can afford it through private doctors," said the fund's coordinator Stephanie Nadal Gueye. The mission has a budget of 60,000 euros ($67,500) and includes a significant and unprecedented training component for hospital obstetricians. Abramowicz, one of the only women working in the field in France, has trained 10 surgeons from six French-speaking African countries -- Guinea, Benin, Senegal, Chad, Togo and Ivory Coast. She also brought in seven paramedics, mainly midwives, to provide comprehensive care for the 28 patients last month, including psychosocial care to prevent them being stigmatised for having undergone the procedure. A report by the UN children agency, UNICEF, last year estimated that more than 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation -- 30 million more than in 2016. In Ivory Coast, one woman in three is a victim of FGM. The practice is internationally recognised as a human rights violation. Abramowicz said her happy and proud former patients had since been sending her "10 photos a day" of their reconstructed genitals. "The value of this mission is that it has planted seeds among healthcare workers but also among these women," she said. "They should become advocates. There's something militant about getting repaired. The fight begins like that."
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Surge in asylum reveals struggles of international students amid Canada's immigration crackdown
Canada is seeing a record-breaking surge in international students seeking asylum , with 2024 marking an all-time high, and it is expected to rise in 2025. Over 20,245 international students claimed asylum in 2024, according to newly obtained federal data that is nearly double the number in 2023 and six times higher than in 2019. In just the first three months of 2025, 5,500 asylum claims were filed by students, a 22% rise from the same period last year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Students from countries experiencing turmoil arrive on study permits, often with hopes of building a new life, but when traditional immigration pathways close, asylum becomes a last resort. 'The government has closed a lot of doors for international students to apply for permanent residence,' said Toronto-based immigration lawyer Chantal Desloges. 'It's funneling people to look for other solutions.' Live Events Many students, especially from countries in Africa and parts of Asia, arrive to find exploitative conditions at under-regulated private colleges, some dubbed 'diploma mills.' Their degrees often hold little value in the job market, and promised work or immigration pathways evaporate. Among the schools with the highest number of asylum claims in 2024: Conestoga College (720 claims) Seneca College (650) Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (500) Niagara College (495) Collège Ellis – Trois-Rivières (475) Yet colleges say they are in the dark. 'We are not in a position to know the intentions of international students,' said Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. Ellis College warned that without better communication from immigration officials, it may stop accepting students from 'certain French-speaking African countries.' Prime Minister Mark Carney , newly in office, is under pressure to reduce immigration. He pledged to limit temporary residents, including foreign students, to under 5% of Canada's population by 2027, down from 7%, to ease pressure on housing and social services. 'There would be ill effects on people, their families, and their employers,' said Ottawa-based lawyer Warren Creates. 'Have refugees created [the housing crisis]? No. Have they exacerbated it a bit? Probably.' Ottawa has already slashed study permits by 40%, tightened work rights for students and spouses, and promised to crack down on 'overheated' immigration and questionable schools. Meanwhile, students wait. The Immigration and Refugee Board faces a backlog of 281,000, but the effects will take time to show, officials admit. cases. Each student must prove they face a 'well-founded fear of persecution' back home. Why an increase in the number of students in Canada? Canada became a top destination for international students due to its quality education, affordable tuition, and welcoming immigration policies. Students from countries facing conflict or limited opportunities were especially drawn to the promise of safety, work opportunities, and a future in Canada. However, the rapid rise in student numbers overwhelmed the system. Some colleges, especially private ones, recruited aggressively without offering strong academic or career support. Many students ended up in precarious situations, with few options to stay legally. As housing and public services came under pressure, the government responded by cutting study permits and tightening rules. Now, more students are turning to asylum as a last resort. Immigration Policy under Prime Minister Mark Carney Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is ushering in a major shift in immigration policy, aimed at balancing compassion with sustainability. 'Immigration caps will remain in place until we've expanded housing, and we've reabsorbed the levels of immigration that have happened in our country during the pandemic,' Carney stated, highlighting a new era of caution. Under this plan, permanent resident admissions will be kept below 1% of Canada's population annually beyond 2027. At the same time, temporary residents, including international students and foreign workers, will be reduced to under 5% of the total population by the end of 2027, through tighter visa issuance, transitions to permanent residency, or natural permit expirations. The policy also focuses on easing pressure on public services, increasing francophone immigration outside Quebec, modernizing visa processing, and enhancing border enforcement. As Canada tightens its immigration system under Prime Minister Mark Carney, international students are increasingly caught in limbo. With traditional pathways narrowing, many are left turning to asylum, not by choice, but by necessity.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ivorian women fight FGM with reconstructive surgery
Adele Koue Sungbeu underwent female genital mutilation as a teenager but now holds her head up high and smiles broadly as she walks to work in Abidjan after reconstructive surgery. The 45-year-old midwife is one of 28 women from the west African country who underwent the procedure last month in a public hospital in Ivory Coast's economic capital. In charge of the surgery was obstetric surgeon Sarah Abramowicz, a leading specialist in female genital reconstruction in France. Sungbeu, who has three boys aged 22, 16 and 12 and is going through a divorce, said before the operation that her circumcision did not cause her any difficulties. But she said she felt "embarrassed" by the way partners looked at her. "They don't say anything but you feel that they're not comfortable," she added. "And that makes you feel uncomfortable. "When you look at other women, you're completely different. That's my problem. When I open my legs, it's completely flat." Sungbeu said she had been trying to get the delicate surgery to repair her clitoris and labia minora for some time. After the operation, she said she was "proud to have done it". Another woman at the clinic, who preferred not to give her name as she waited her turn, said she travelled to neighbouring Burkina Faso and paid 370,000 CFA francs ($635) for the procedure. But the operation was never carried out. "I was circumcised at the age of six by a midwife. It's hampering my relationships and my husband left because of it," said the woman, 31. - 'Militant' act - One of the aims of the initiative, spearheaded by the Muskoka Fund set up in 2010 by the French government, is to treat women for free in hospitals. "It shouldn't be something accessible only to those who can afford it through private doctors," said Muskoka Fund coordinator Stephanie Nadal Gueye. The mission has a budget of 60,000 euros ($67,500) and includes a significant and unprecedented training component for hospital obstetricians. Abramowicz, one of the only women working in the field in France, has trained 10 surgeons from six French-speaking African countries -- Guinea, Benin, Senegal, Chad, Togo and Ivory Coast. She also brought in seven paramedics, mainly midwives, to provide comprehensive care for the 28, including psychosocial care to prevent them being stigmatised for having undergone the procedure. A report by the UN children agency, UNICEF, last year estimated that more than 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation -- 30 million more than in 2016. In Ivory Coast, one woman in three is a victim of FGM. The practice is internationally recognised as a human rights violation. Abramowicz said her happy and proud former patients have since been sending her "10 photos a day" of their reconstructed genitals. "The value of this mission is that it has planted seeds among healthcare workers but also among these women," she said. "They should become advocates. There's something militant about getting repaired. The fight begins like that." acp-sc/asl/phz/kjm
