International Students program ‘fell short’ — auditor general reveals thousands of uninvestigated flags

Only 4, 057 investigations were opened in 2023 and 2024 out of 153, 000 flagged cases connected to international students, the Auditor General’s report finds — a gap that reframes how program integrity is being enforced.

How many flagged international students cases were actually investigated?

Verified facts:

• The Auditor General’s report records 153, 000 cases of potential non-compliance submitted by nearly 93 per cent of 700 Canadian learning institutions between 2023 and 2024.
• The immigration department conducted 4, 057 investigations in 2023 and 2024, while its funding covers the investigation of 2, 000 cases annually.
• Of the investigations undertaken, about 41 per cent could not be closed because of a lack of response from students; 50 cases were identified as non‑compliant and requiring further follow‑up.

Analysis: The raw comparison of 4, 057 investigations to 153, 000 flagged files shows a stark mismatch between reported concerns and investigative activity. The department’s funding level — sufficient for 2, 000 investigations a year — is an explicit constraint identified in the report and helps explain the numerical shortfall in cases pursued.

Why did the department leave hundreds of fraud cases unpursued?

Verified facts:

Auditor General Karen Hogan said the department did not follow up on cases where fraudulent documents were identified and that it did not pursue 800 cases involving fraudulent documentation discovered after permits were approved. The report also found the department generally took “limited action” beyond contacting the student for more information when it did open an investigation.

Immigration Minister Lena Diab welcomed the report and said the department will be “centralizing investigations. ” Minister Diab said officials will be “streamlining anyone that is flagged, ” will do “more reporting, ” and will be “information sharing with CBSA of any students that are not compliant, or that are not currently students. ” The minister characterized non‑compliant and fraudulent cases as a “small percentage” of international student cases, and did not provide details about personnel assigned to investigate the program; the department employs over 11, 000 people.

Analysis: The report documents both operational limits and procedural choices. Limited follow-up beyond an initial contact, and the failure to pursue 800 cases discovered post-approval, point to process weaknesses. The department’s stated funding ceiling for investigations and absence of disclosed investigative staffing levels suggest capacity shortfalls are a central driver of incomplete enforcement.

What must change to restore integrity and who is accountable?

Verified facts and obligations: The Auditor General’s report concludes the department “needs to act on the information it has, to address integrity concerns in the program. ” The report identifies substantial numbers of flagged cases that were not closed or not pursued, and highlights instances of fraudulent documentation overlooked after permit approval. Minister Lena Diab has committed to centralizing investigations and sharing information with the CBSA.

Analysis and accountability conclusion: The evidence in the report establishes a gap between data collected by learning institutions and follow-up action by the immigration department. Centralizing investigations and improving information-sharing with the Canada Border Services Agency are concrete steps the minister has pledged. To be meaningful, these commitments should be accompanied by transparent disclosure of investigative capacity, timelines for centralization, and measurable targets for reducing the backlog of flagged files. Absent such disclosures, the mismatch between 153, 000 flagged cases and the thousands actually investigated will persist as a governance shortfall.

Any durable fix will require the department to act on the report’s findings, clarify resources devoted to investigations, and make the outcomes of enforcement efforts visible to the public so the integrity of the international students program can be reassessed on evidence, not assurances.