Hi, friends! 👋

Welcome to another edition of TheCanIndian Weekly.

This is the second edition of the month, and we have plenty of updates to share regarding immigration in Canada and the USA, along with draw updates. Stay tuned and read till the end!

In today’s email, we’ve got 6 key updates you definitely won’t want to miss:

1. This week’s immigration draw 🔔

2. New Brunswick Resumes Immigration Programs

3. Hot news

   • CBSA Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal Workers and Border Violations

   • Cross Border Smuggling Quebec

   • St. Clair College suspended 18 programs

   • 104 Indians get deported from USA

So grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let’s dive into what’s been happening in the world of immigration. Trust us, it’s worth the read!"

Today’s edition reading time is 7 minutes.

Don’t keep us a secret😀Forward this email to friends who might find it useful.
Have Feedback?

This Week’s Immigration Draws

There have been six draws this week. 2 for Express Entry, one for Manitoba PNP and 3 for Alberta PNP.

Express Entry

Manitoba PNP

Alberta PNP

Get Booked on 3.8 Million Podcasts Automatically

Stop wasting time – 2025 is going by fast. If you finally want to be a regular podcast guest in your industry, PodPitch.com will make it happen. Even the beehiiv team uses it!

Imagine snapping your fingers & getting booked on the exact podcasts your customers are already listening to…

With PodPitch.com, it takes 60 secs to start emailing tons of podcast hosts to pitch YOU as the perfect next guest.

• Sync your email address

• Load in your brand info

• Click "go"

Now, you've just automated thousands of personalized emails pitching YOU as the PERFECT next podcast guest. Sit back and relax as you watch the emails send out from your email address.

Big brands like Feastables, Jack Links, and hundreds more are already using PodPitch.com instead of expensive PR agencies.

PodPitch.com is so confident in their tech that they'll give you a FREE Starbucks gift card if PodPitch.com isn't the most impressive 20 minute demo you've ever seen.

Ready to make 2025 your year?

Get your FREE personalized demo by clicking here now!

New Brunswick Resumes Immigration Programs

New Brunswick has resumed its immigration programs following a temporary pause due to reduced federal allocations for 2025. The province has been allocated 2,750 nomination spaces, divided between the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).

Key updates on New Brunswick's immigration streams:

• New Brunswick Express Entry: Opening soon for new Expressions of Interest (EOIs) under two pathways: Employment in New Brunswick and New Brunswick Interests. Some occupations are excluded.

  These NOCs won’t be eligible in this program:

  • Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200)

  • Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)

  • Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)

  • Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)

  • Cooks (NOC 63200)

  • Bakers (NOC 63202)

• Private Career College Graduate Program: Accepting EOIs, but closing in autumn 2025.

• New Brunswick Skilled Worker: Reopened with three pathways: Work Experience, Graduates, and Priority Occupations.

  These NOCs won’t be eligible in this program:

  • Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200)

  • Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)

  • Shippers and receivers (NOC 14400)

  • Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)

  • Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)

  • Cooks (NOC 63200)

  • Bakers (NOC 63202)

  • Bartenders (NOC 64301)

  •  Other customer representatives (NOC 64409)

  • Food and beverage servers (NOC 65200)

  • Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers, and related occupations (NOC 65201)

  • Process control and machine operators - food and beverage processing (NOC 94140)

  • Fish and seafood plant workers (NOC 94142)

  • Labourers in food and beverage processing (NOC 95106)

  • Labourers in fish and seafood (NOC 95107)

• New Brunswick Business Immigration: Open for EOIs from business owners with at least six months of operational experience.

• New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot: Currently accepting applications.

  The Program is a five-year initiative aimed at addressing labour shortages in key sectors across the province. It is designed for skilled workers who wish to settle permanently in New Brunswick. Applicants can apply through participating employers, as the program is employer-driven and does not accept direct applications from candidates.

  The program focuses on occupations that are difficult to fill and offers a pathway to permanent residency for eligible workers. While the program is currently limited in scope, there may be future opportunities for broader participation.

  Participating Employers

  • Cooke Aquaculture

  • J.D. Irving Ltd.

  • Groupe Savoie

  • Groupe Westco

  • Imperial Manufacturing Group

  • McCain Foods, Ltd.

• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Accepting applications.

The province is prioritizing sectors like healthcare, education, and construction while limiting applications from certain occupations due to limited nomination spaces.

Hot News

1.CBSA Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal Workers and Border Violations

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has ramped up enforcement efforts across the country, conducting raids and spot checks to identify individuals working illegally. This crackdown is part of a broader initiative to ensure compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and to bolster border security.

Key actions in this enforcement push include:

• Construction worker interceptions: In Alberta, a spot check led to the discovery of construction workers employed illegally.

• Truck driver violations: Multiple truck drivers were found working on visitor visas without the proper permits.

• Project Disrupt and Deter: Launched in December 2024, this initiative focuses on monitoring vulnerable areas in the Niagara region to combat organized human smuggling.

• Increased removals: The CBSA aims to boost removals of individuals from Canada by 25% in 2025.

  Primary targets are…

  • Inadmissible foreign nationals: These are individuals who are in Canada illegally or have violated immigration laws.

  • High-priority cases: The CBSA focuses on removing those involved in criminality, organized crime, human rights violations, and national security threats.

  • Non-genuine visitors: Individuals who have entered Canada under false pretenses or have overstayed their visas.

  • Failed asylum seekers: Those whose refugee claims have been rejected and are required to leave the country.

  • Individuals with removal orders: Foreign nationals who have been issued deportation orders but have not complied voluntarily.

  • Workers without proper permits: For example, truck drivers or construction workers found to be working on visitor visas without the necessary work permits.

The CBSA is adopting a more proactive approach, targeting unauthorized employment and illegal border crossings. Consequences for those found working illegally include Section 44 reports, removal orders, and possible 12-month exclusion orders barring re-entry into Canada.

These actions are part of Project Northstar, a national strategy aimed at enhancing border security and maintaining immigration integrity across Canada.

2.Cross Border Smuggling

Three men in Quebec have been charged with smuggling individuals from the U.S. into Canada. The charges stem from an investigation that began in May 2024 after one of the men, Muhammet Akca, was intercepted while attempting to pick up a group of people who had crossed the border illegally. Two other men, Adrian Jose Herrera Tabares and Frangeli Coromoto Guzman Espinoza, were arrested in November 2024. Akca is set to appear in court in March 2025.

For more details, read the full story here.

3.College Program Suspensions

St. Clair College has announced the suspension of intake for 18 programs starting in September 2025, citing financial challenges due to international student visa caps. This follows similar moves by other institutions:

• Centennial College suspended 49 full-time programs for the 2025-26 academic year.

• St. Lawrence College halted intake for 55 programs (about 40% of their offerings) starting in Spring 2025.

These suspensions are largely attributed to the federal government's restrictions on international student visas, resulting in a significant decline in international student enrollment and subsequent revenue for colleges.

4.Deportation from USA

The recent deportation of 104 Indian nationals from the United States on February 5, 2025, has stirred controversy and political debate in India. The deportees were transported aboard a U.S. military aircraft, and reports suggest they were subjected to degrading treatment, including being handcuffed and shackled during the flight. Indian opposition lawmakers have condemned the treatment as "humiliating," with some even wearing handcuffs in protest during Parliamentary sessions.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar clarified that deportation procedures have been in place since 2012, with no changes in process, and assured that India is engaging with the U.S. government to prevent mistreatment. The timing of the deportation, just before a high-level meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adds further complexity to the diplomatic implications, especially in relation to migration discussions.

This incident has raised concerns about the handling of deportations and its impact on India-U.S. relations.