Canada recorded a sharp rise in forced removals of Indian nationals in 2025; CBSA data shows 1,891 removals by July and large removals-in-progress inventory.
Canada has recorded a sharp rise in forced removals of Indian nationals in 2025, with 1,891 Indians removed by July 28 — a tally that puts the year on track to exceed 2024’s total of 1,997 removals. Analysts and community groups point to a mix of policy tightening, faster case processing and higher numbers of asylum and temporary-resident denials as the proximate drivers of the surge.
Data published by Canada’s Border Services Agency (CBSA) shows India is among the top nationalities in both removals completed and the removals-in-progress inventory — 6,837 Indians listed as removals in progress — highlighting a backlog of cases that could translate into more forced returns later in the year if enforcement accelerates.
The spike is occurring against a broader policy backdrop: Ottawa has signalled plans to speed up enforcement and improve tracking of removals as part of efforts to manage migration flows and resource constraints, a stance that has drawn criticism from refugee advocates who warn of risks to asylum-seekers and the need for due-process safeguards.
Practical implications for the Indian diaspora include heightened scrutiny of work and study-permit holders, pressure on legal aid and pro-bono immigration support, and an uptick in consular coordination as New Delhi monitors removals and assists nationals returned to India. Officials and community leaders urge potential migrants to follow legal channels, secure proper documentation and seek accredited immigration advice to avoid irregular pathways that raise removal risk. CC processing-time changes, and statements from the Ministry of External Affairs on repatriation and consular assistance — all of which will determine whether 2025 becomes the year with a record number of forced returns to India.
