Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Michelle Rempel Garner, Conservative Shadow Minister for Immigration; Arpan Khanna, Conservative Shadow Minister for Justice and Attorney General; and Frank Caputo, Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Safety, issued the following statement on a new report finding that a criminal gang has been abusing our student visa system:

“Today, Global News reported on a new devastating yet predictable outcome of the Liberals’ complete disregard for Canada’s immigration system. A classified intelligence report by CBSA shows that India’s Bishnoi gang has expanded its criminal network into Canada, allegedly instigating high-profile murders, political assasination, and deepening the current extortion crisis. Their way in? Canada’s student visa system.

“The report paints a picture of the situation caused by Liberal failures to undertake proper criminal vetting of those entering Canada, indicating that crimes committed by Indian nationals on student permits skyrocketed by a whopping 8,800 per cent from 2016 to 2024, while the country was ranked as the ‘top source’ of foreign students charged with crimes.

“Between 2019 and 2023, 4,000 of these international students were charged with 17,929 criminal offences. A third of those were considered serious or organized-crime related, while 97 per cent of those crimes were considered violent. 

“In 2024 alone, more than 13,040 criminal charges were laid against international students from India, a significant jump. 

“The report goes on to cite cases of suspected gang members appearing at deportation hearings as recently as within the last 6 months, according to the Immigration Refugee Board. These cases, the report states, concerned gunmen who had fired weapons at homes and businesses in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, and associates involved in those attacks.

“The Auditor General of Canada, in her March 2026 report, was clear that ‘light touches’ and poor follow-up were unsurprisingly not enough to protect Canada’s once strong immigration system from fraud, abuse and criminals entering Canada. This advice has clearly fallen on deaf ears.

“What’s worse, we learned from the Auditor General that even when immigration department risk assessments identify suspected fraud, applicants are not only allowed to proceed to their student visas, but are later permitted to advance into further immigration applications, such as permanent residency.  

“Canadians are fed up with crime and disorder on our streets that was entirely preventable had the Liberals done basic due diligence that both halted criminals before they entered our country and deported criminals found within Canada. 

“Conservatives have repeatedly called on Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney to rein in his reckless and irresponsible approach that has left the system rife with fraud and endless backlogs. A porous oversight that we have once again confirmed welcomes criminals into Canada. 

“We have proposed:

  • Ending non-citizen’s immigration status from being considered in criminal sentencing to restore one law for all;
  • Restoring real and full security and criminal vetting;
  • Amending the definition of serious criminality to ensure serious crimes face serious consequences;
  • Ensuring ministers issue detention orders and law enforcement issues warrants when someone poses a risk to public safety;
  • Penalizing lies and fraud in applications;
  • Firm deadlines for judicial review processes; and 
  • Transparent reporting requirements on warrants and deportations that Canadians can review.

“Unfortunately, the Liberals have blocked many of these common-sense improvements. Today, we are seeing the continued consequences of those decisions. 

“Canadians deserve an immigration system that prioritizes the people it is intended to serve, while stopping criminals from entering our country. Conservatives will restore balance and fairness to Canada’s immigration system.