Zain Haq, 24, was ordered deported last year by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) over alleged violations of his study permit, related to his academic progress. The order also followed Haq’s arrest at Save Old Growth and Extinction Rebellion protests in 2021 and 2022.

(Randall Cohn, Haq’s lawyer) said IRCC apparently lost Haq’s October application for temporary residency, which meant he was unable to stay in Canada after the permanent residency application was denied.

“It seems like there have been some mistakes, if not some impropriety, in terms of how it has been processed from the beginning,” the lawyer said.

“When there is an appearance of such things, then I think the the judicious and prudent and responsible action by the government would be to slow down and say, ‘Let’s make sure that we’re doing this correctly.’”