The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) confirmed on March 20 that it has removed 35 foreign nationals linked to a wave of extortion targeting South-Asian-owned businesses, chiefly in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. In a status update, the agency revealed 372 active immigration investigations and 70 removal orders tied to the criminal scheme, which has included arson and drive-by shootings. Two recent high-profile deportees illustrate the agency’s widened lens. Arshdeep Singh, who arrived on a study permit in 2022, was found inadmissible for gang-related offences and escorted out of Canada on January 19. Sukhnaaz Singh Sandhu, a temporary resident since 2016, was removed on February 3 after the Immigration and Refugee Board deemed him involved in organized crime. The CBSA says it is hiring 1,000 officers under a $30.4-million “Border Plan” and working with provincial extortion task forces in B.C., Alberta and, more recently, the Greater Toronto Area. For employers that rely on foreign workers, the crackdown highlights stricter screening and the possibility of sudden removals that could disrupt operations. Consultants warn that businesses sponsoring temporary residents should revisit compliance protocols—particularly record-keeping and on-site inspections—to avoid reputational fallout if employees become embroiled in criminal probes. From a broader mobility perspective, the episode underscores Ottawa’s intent to safeguard public safety without derailing economic immigration. While the numbers are small relative to Canada’s newcomer population, the high-profile nature of the crimes keeps immigration fraud and security inadmissibility squarely on policymakers’ radar.
