Understanding Canada’s Silent Immigration Crackdown

“Why are Indian workers suddenly losing their work permits in Canada?” The issue boils down to policy shifts, administrative delays, and immigration target cuts by the Canadian government in 2025.

At the center of the crisis is a dramatic increase in LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) processing times, which are necessary for renewing most temporary work permits. In early 2025, the timeline ballooned from 58 to 165 business days, leaving thousands of Indian migrants without timely renewals. Without active permits, they lose the legal right to work, access services, or renew their residency status. Moreover, Canada has reduced its permanent residency targets, down to 395,000 from 500,000, with plans to shrink this further. The transition from temporary worker to permanent resident is no longer straightforward, leading many Indian workers and students into legal limbo.

The Real-World Human Impact of Policy and Backlogs

This “silent crackdown” doesn’t involve mass deportations, but rather bureaucratic and procedural obstacles that force people out. Migrants like Devi Acharya, who followed the legal process, now find themselves jobless and uninsured. Her family cannot access basic services, and her child is barred from school because of an expired permit. These are not isolated incidents but part of a larger crisis affecting thousands.

To make matters worse, new policies introduced in January 2025 restrict open work permits for spouses and dependents, leading to widespread family separations among Indian migrants. The lack of communication and clarity from authorities only adds to the emotional burden and mental health crisis faced by these families. In this environment, many migrants are turning to community support, NGOs, legal consultants, and even religious faith for guidance and relief. However, not everyone is coping responsibly.

Entitlement, Exploitation & What Migrants Are Doing to Stay

A controversial and growing trend is that some international students and temporary workers are now exploring ways to stay in Canada at all costs—even if it means bending the rules.

One international student, whose work permit is about to expire, blames Canada for her situation, despite the fact that no legal guarantee of permanent residency is made to students or temporary workers. A long-time resident who came to Canada as a student nearly 30 years ago noted, “She doesn’t have a legal right to stay beyond her permit. If she refuses to leave, she should be deported.” This student and her friends are now considering applying for refugee status, a move that could delay deportation for years, even if the claim has no legitimate basis. Critics say this tactic exploits Canada’s slow asylum system and relies on white guilt, which is easy to manipulate in a country known for its leniency and goodwill.