Canada removed 3,323 Indian nationals in the first half of 2026, the highest among all nationalities during the period, according to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) data.The figure has already reached nearly 88 per cent of the 3,779 Indian nationals removed in all of 2025, putting 2026 on course to become the highest year on record for removals involving Indians.The latest data marks a sharp shift from previous years, when Mexicans consistently topped the list of removals. Between January and June this year, however, India ranked first with 3,323 removals, followed by Mexico (1,573) and Haiti (431).
India tops Canada’s removals in Jan-June 2026 .
The trend has accelerated rapidly over the past few years. Canada removed 603 Indians in 2021, 786 in 2022, 1,132 in 2023, 2,004 in 2024, and 3,779 in 2025.The 3,323 removals recorded in just six months of 2026 suggest this year’s total could comfortably surpass last year’s record.The last time India topped Canada’s annual removal list was in 2020, when 1,424 Indian nationals were removed.The CBSA data also shows that 7,669 Indian nationals are currently in Canada’s “removal in progress” inventory—the highest among all nationalities. Mexico follows with 6,561, while the US (2,179), China (1,892), Nigeria (1,647) and Colombia (1,237) complete the top six.Overall, 40,817 people have been removed from Canada between 2020 and the first half of 2026. Besides India and Mexico, the largest national groups include China (1,892), Nigeria (1,647), Colombia (1,237), Pakistan (1,139), Brazil (1,118), Chile (1,030) and Bangladesh (968).The CBSA said removing people who have no legal right to remain in Canada is essential to maintaining the integrity of the country’s immigration system and ensuring fairness for those who comply with immigration laws.Under Canadian immigration law, removals can take place through departure orders, exclusion orders and deportation orders.The agency said individuals issued a departure order must leave Canada within 30 days. Failure to do so results in the order automatically becoming a deportation order.While the CBSA data does not specify the reasons for removal by nationality, Canadian authorities have in recent months flagged concerns over the involvement of some foreign nationals, including certain Indian study and work permit holders, in organised criminal activities, particularly extortion-related investigations.
