Brampton Mayor Warns that International Students in Canada are Being Targeted by Human Traffickers

October 24, 2024 TruthUSA

According to Mayor Patrick Brown of a city in southern Ontario, international students studying in Canada are increasingly becoming targets of human traffickers. Brampton, located near Toronto, houses a large population of foreign students who often struggle with financial difficulties, making them vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking due to housing insecurity and lack of institutional support.

Mayor Brown emphasized the need to address this issue during a press conference on Oct. 23, stating that the city stands against human trafficking and aims to combat it effectively. He highlighted the strategic location of Brampton, with an international airport and major highways, making the region more susceptible to this societal issue.

Particularly, female students are falling victim to predatory landlords and traffickers, leading to dire consequences such as unwanted pregnancies, mental health crises, and even suicide, as mentioned in a press release by the city.

Mayor Brown pointed out that Peel Regional Police have charged 168 individuals with 666 human trafficking-related offenses since 2020, noting a significant level of underreporting of such crimes.

The mayor underlined that addressing human trafficking transcends the capabilities of Brampton alone, calling upon federal and provincial authorities to take more substantial action in combating this issue at both local and national levels.

Mayor Brown stressed the importance of a joint effort by all levels of government to combat human trafficking and exploitation of international students in Brampton and across Canada. A motion proposed by regional councillor Rowena Santos, advocating for integrated services backed by federal and provincial authorities, aims to address this critical issue effectively.

The motion calls for enhancements to the Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) program to safeguard international students, increase awareness about human trafficking, and tackle illegal practices in the rental market.

One key area of concern highlighted by Santos is employment opportunities for international students. She emphasized that current restrictions on work hours often force students into unsafe, illegal employment, making them more susceptible to exploitation. Santos also called for strengthened protections against deportation threats, especially for those coerced into the sex trade.

Expressing solidarity against the exploitation of international students, Santos emphasized the need to end this unacceptable practice in Brampton and Canada, particularly for young women seeking a better future.

Growing Foreign Student Numbers

Canadian universities accepted a record 1,040,000 international students in 2023, marking a 29 percent increase from 2022. Over half a million of these students chose Ontario as their destination, with Brampton being home to tens of thousands of foreign students, many of whom originate from India, according to Mayor Brown.

In September, the federal government announced plans to reduce the number of international student permits granted for 2025 and 2026. The revised target is set at 437,000 permits for both years, down from the 485,000 permits issued in 2024, as announced by Immigration Canada on Sept. 18.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller stressed at a Sept. 18 press conference the need for stricter controls amidst concerns that the influx of international students has adversely affected rental markets in several cities.

The federal government aims to lower the proportion of temporary residents in Canada from 6.5 percent to 5 percent by 2026 through this cap, addressing challenges arising from rapid population growth and housing constraints.

Miller emphasized the importance of colleges and universities tightening their recruiting and admission practices in conjunction with the government’s cap to prevent abuse of the system for unauthorized entry into Canada.

Santos also called for reforms in colleges and universities, as outlined in Brampton’s International Students Charter. The city urges federal, provincial, and educational institutions across Ontario to endorse the charter, which outlines clear responsibilities for institutions to provide comprehensive support services that prevent exploitation and support students in areas like housing, employment, and mental health.

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