Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Sept. 23rd, 2025

[Soyoung Park]

Well, the statistics that I just provided you would be study permit holders who claimed asylum.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Okay. Let's try this. What are the top 10 nationalities among former students or PGWP holders now claiming asylum, and what primary grounds are being cited?

[Soyoung Park]

We would be able to provide to you the nationality. In terms of the claim type, or the grounds of claim, that would be available through the Immigration and Refugee Board.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Did you say that you would not be able to provide the nationality?

[Soyoung Park]

We would be able to.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Okay. Can you please do that? You can submit that to us after the fact.

[Soyoung Park]

Okay.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

That would be good information.

Since January 2024, how many removal orders have been issued to former students or PGWP holders making asylum claims? How many were stayed due to active claims or appeals, by month?

[Soyoung Park]

That would be under the mandate of the CBSA, but I'm not sure whether....

[Aiesha Zafar, Assistant Deputy Minister, Migration Integrity, Department of Citizenship and Immigration]

Yes, as my colleague mentioned, the number of removals specific to study permits would be under the CBSA's purview. However, I understand that they did effect, overall, 18,000 removals in 2024. I don't have the percentage of those who were students.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Are you saying that the department doesn't know how many removals were from study permit holders?

[Aiesha Zafar]

IRCC does not track that data, as it's the mandate of the Canada Border Services Agency.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

How many work-eligible asylum claimants who were former students or PGWP holders obtain open work permits while claims are pending?

[Soyoung Park]

Just to confirm, Madam Chair, PGWP is an open work permit, so I'm not sure whether I would be answering the question that's being sought.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

You have one minute left.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Okay, thank you.

Since January 2024, how many study permit holders have transitioned to postgraduate work permits, and what share have remained in the original study region versus moved to another province?

[Soyoung Park]

I would be able to answer part of that question. What I can tell you is that in 2024, there were 200,000 new PGWP holders. That's a decrease of 15% from the previous year.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

What share of them remained in their original study region versus moved to a different region?

[Soyoung Park]

I'm sorry. I didn't hear that.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

What share remained in their original study region versus moved to a different region?

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Please give a quick response.

[Soyoung Park]

I don't have that information.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Does IRCC not have that, or is it that you just don't have it with you?

[Soyoung Park]

It would have to be a special request to obtain that information.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Can you provide that to the committee?