Pakistan-born Zain Haq, a 24-year-old student and climate activist from Canada, is set to be deported to Pakistan after an unsuccessful attempt to stop the deportation order.
Haq, co-founder of the Save Old Growth environmental group, was ordered deported last year by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) over alleged violations of his study permit, related to academic progress.
The order followed his arrest during Save Old Growth and Extinction Rebellion protests in 2021 and 2022.
Haq pleaded guilty to five counts of mischief related to the protests but was not considered a violent offender by the courts.
The deportation order was initially cancelled when Haq’s wife, Sophia Papp, applied to sponsor him as a permanent resident under humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
However, authorities denied the spousal sponsorship application and reportedly misplaced a separate application Haq had submitted for temporary residency in October.
Haq’s lawyer argued that the process was mishandled, and due process was not followed.
Haq, who arrived in Canada in 2019 to study at Simon Fraser University, was working toward a major in history.
His academic progress came under scrutiny when he shifted his focus to climate activism, and CBSA determined that he had violated his study permit by not making sufficient progress.
Although Haq was on academic probation at one point, SFU had supported his continued studies.
The rejection of Papp’s sponsorship application leaves Haq facing deportation without a chance for reprieve.
Photo: @regeneration.ca on Instagram
Haq and his supporters have argued that the deportation order may be politically motivated due to his activism.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) declined to comment on the case, citing privacy regulations.
Haq has received support from climate activists, including Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, who voiced concerns about the deportation amid ongoing climate crises in North America.