India tops Canada removal figures in first half of 2026; Bangladesh returns to top 10
Canada deported 3,323 Indian nationals between January and June, according to the figures provided. That is about 88% of the 3,779 Indians removed during 2025, which was itself a record high
India became the largest source country for immigration removals from Canada in the first six months of 2026, with the number of Indian nationals deported already approaching the total for all of 2025, while Bangladesh returned to Canada's top 10 citizenships for removals.
Canada deported 3,323 Indian nationals between January and June, according to the figures provided. That is about 88% of the 3,779 Indians removed during 2025, which was itself a record high, says the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
India has overtaken Mexico as the citizenship group with the largest number of removals in the first half of this year. It is the first time India has held the top position since 2020.
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The figures also show a substantial number of Indian nationals in Canada's "removals in progress inventory". As of 30 June 2026, 7,669 Indians were in the inventory, the largest group among all citizenships.
Criminality among factors in Indian removals
The specific reasons for removal are not always categorised by citizenship, but criminality and organised crime have been identified as significant factors involving some Indian nationals, according to the information provided.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has identified Indian nationals holding study and work permits as participants in organised criminal activities, including extortion-related violence involving gangs such as the Lawrence Bishnoi outfit.
There has also been an increase in criminal charges involving Indian study permit holders. More than 13,040 criminal charges were laid against this demographic in 2024, while between 2019 and 2023, 4,000 Indians on study permits were charged with nearly 18,000 offences.
The figures indicate that Canada's removal activity involving Indian nationals is rising rapidly, with the 2026 total potentially setting a new annual record if the first-half pace continues.
Bangladesh returns to top 10
Bangladesh, meanwhile, has returned to Canada's top 10 citizenships for removals after several years outside the ranking.
Canada removed 227 Bangladeshi nationals during the first six months of 2026, putting Bangladesh seventh among the top 10 citizenships for removals during the period.
Bangladesh was last in the top 10 in 2020, when 308 Bangladeshi nationals were removed. It did not appear among the top 10 between 2021 and 2025.
Bangladesh also ranked 10th in Canada's "removals in progress inventory" as of 30 June, with 968 nationals being processed for departure.
The contrasting trends show a sharp increase in removals involving Indian nationals, alongside a renewed presence of Bangladeshi nationals among the leading citizenship groups subject to Canadian immigration enforcement.
India's removal figures are also substantially higher than those reported by the United States in the period cited. The US deported 1,273 Indian nationals through July 2026, compared with 3,323 removed by Canada in the first six months of the year.
