How Khalistan Issue Is Being Used For Refugee Fraud In Canada, Indian Asylum Seekers Highest

Indian nationals continue to dominate Canada’s refugee claimant pool, but officials in New Delhi and immigration experts in Toronto warn that many of these applications are fraudulent, often tied to exploiting the Khalistan issue, the Hindustan Times reported.

Indian officials suspect that some claimants briefly participated in pro-Khalistan protests outside Indian missions in Canada, taking selfies to “prove” their separatist allegiance and strengthen their asylum bids. These staged displays, they believe, are being used to falsely demonstrate political persecution.

Between January and June 2025, Indians filed 9,947 claims with the Refugee Protection Division, making up more than 18 per cent of Canada’s total 55,093 claims.

Though lower than the 32,563 cases lodged in 2024, India still leads all countries. Worryingly, Indian claimants also top refusal and abandonment rates; 19 per cent of cases were rejected, and over half were abandoned.

Mississauga-based immigration consultant Kanwar Sierah has been vocal about the misuse of Canada’s asylum system.

“This isn’t immigration. This is a fraud industry with Government blessings,” he was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times, alleging that the Greater Toronto Area has become “the breeding ground of blood-sucking ‘licensed’ consultants churning out copy-paste asylum claims.”

Many claimants reportedly enter Canada on visitor visas and are sold “package deals” that include filing a refugee claim. International students and foreign workers also turn to asylum applications as a way to stay on after study or work permits expire, especially with fewer avenues to permanent residency.

For India, the issue is not only about fraudulent migration but also about the political weaponisation of its diaspora. Pro-Khalistan protests abroad, amplified by even marginal participation, create a distorted picture of support for separatism while feeding asylum narratives in Canada.

The surge in claims dates back to the Trudeau government’s early years, rising from just 379 Indian applications in 2015 to tens of thousands annually.

While genuine cases exist, Indian officials and immigration experts alike warn that refugee fraud linked to Khalistan has become entrenched, posing risks that go beyond immigration policy and directly impinge on India’s national security interests.

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