Authorities say another 29,542 individuals currently face deportation proceedings, including 6,515 Indians, indicating that enforcement actions may rise in the coming months. Officials attribute many removals to criminal convictions, while others involve violations of refugee or immigration rules.

Canadian law provides three categories of removal orders. A Departure Order requires individuals to leave within 30 days or face stricter penalties. An Exclusion Order bars re-entry for one year, or up to five years in cases of misrepresentation. The most severe, a Deportation Order, permanently bans return unless special authorization is granted. Immigration officials say these measures are designed to ensure compliance while preserving the integrity of the system.

The crackdown comes amid mounting political focus on immigration policy. Prime Minister Mark Carney, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, has argued that reforms are necessary to balance population growth with housing capacity. The opposition Conservative Party of Canada has also pressed for tighter controls, making immigration a central issue in national debate.

For 2025, Ottawa set a target of granting permanent residency to about 395,000 people—less than one percent of the population—while simultaneously strengthening border monitoring through a $1.3-billion security plan involving drones and surveillance technology. Officials say these steps aim to deter irregular entry while maintaining pathways for legal migration.

Despite enforcement efforts, immigration remains a defining feature of Canada’s demographic profile. Data from Statistics Canada shows roughly 23 percent of residents were born abroad, underscoring the country’s reliance on newcomers for workforce and population growth.

At the same time, the government is trying to revive declining international student numbers. The department Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reports that new arrivals fell by 61 percent in 2025 after student caps introduced in 2024. Officials have since promoted advanced-degree programs abroad, highlighting that eligible students may bring family members.

Policy analysts say the contrasting approaches—stricter enforcement alongside targeted recruitment—reflect Ottawa’s attempt to strike a balance between economic needs and public concern over migration levels. With deportation proceedings pending for thousands more, the impact of that strategy is likely to remain under scrutiny.