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Canada Border Services Agency officers have carried out a series of enforcement actions targeting international students with expired work or study permits who were gathered at protests in Alberta.

CBSA officers visited an international student protest in Calgary last week, issuing notices to appear to individuals whose permits had lapsed. According to reports circulating on the social media news aggregator YEGWAVE, a similar action was recently carried out at a demonstration organized by Indian international students on 23rd Avenue in the Mill Woods area of Edmonton.

Separately, video has surfaced showing a demonstration at Portage College, a trade school with campuses in communities including Cold Lake, Lac La Biche and St. Paul, Alta. The footage shows Punjabi Indian students calling for the right to work in Canada despite not holding citizenship, with some participants reportedly setting up a tent encampment on campus grounds.

Sheila Gunn Reid discussed the enforcement actions during Wednesday's live stream, noting that Alberta appears to be the only province where CBSA has been actively checking documentation at these kinds of demonstrations. Western Standard columnist Cory Morgan also commented on the reports, pointing out that individuals attending public protests while holding expired permits should expect scrutiny, as most countries treat an expired visa as grounds for removal.

Sheila also raised questions about how consistently notices to appear are followed up, suggesting the process relies heavily on voluntary compliance. She expressed hope that Alberta's approach signals a broader shift toward stricter enforcement nationally, while acknowledging it remains unclear whether CBSA will pursue further action against those identified.

The enforcement actions come amid continuing protests across the country by international students seeking pathways to permanent status despite expired immigration documents.