Spotted: Your comments on citizenship fraud investigations

Citizenship and Immigration Canada is investigating 6,500 people who may have obtained permanent residency status or Canadian citizenship through fraud, Minister Jason Kenney says. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

After two years of investigations by Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP, roughly 2,1000 people may have their Canadian citizenships revoked and another 4,400 may be prevented from upgrading their permanent residency status to full citizenship.

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Friday that those in the hot seat may have obtained their citizenships fraudulently after spending little or no time in Canada.

"We will apply the full strength of Canadian law. Where evidence permits, we will seek the revocation of permanent resident status or citizenship and in some cases the deportation of anyone perpetrating such fraud," Kenney said.

The news generated hundreds of comments from the CBC community, with most applauding the minister's crackdown on immigration fraud.

• "This is one of the times that I'll agree with the current federal government. Great job! Illegal immigration deserves a crackdown." - ronybear
• "Good. These are the types of issues our government should be targetting, as they potentially affect all Canadians . . . Lets get rid of Canadian citizenship of convenience next. If you want to be a Canadian citizen, then live here and make a contribution. Not too much to expect." - Sanity_check
• "Citizenship awarded to an individual by a country is an honour and should be earned. Anyone obtaining it fraudulently should be stripped of it and in some cases deported." - joemajom
• "I'm no where near close to being a Jason Kenny fan but I couldn't be more supportive of him on this file." - Proud Canuck
• "I oppose much of what this government does but I see no legitimate reason to let people retain citizenship they acquired fraudulently." - David84 
• "Recently I met a Burmese refugee in a bar all depressed because he had not gained his Canadian citizenship and had to wait another year to try again. It is disrespectful to people like this refugee, who is trying to do things the right way, that people are able to obtain citizenship through fraudulent means." - The NannyState
  

Some comments targeted specific communities, prompting others to caution that the sentiments should be anti-fraud, not anti-immigrant, and that monitoring immigration is an issue all countries face.

• "While I agree with the government on this issue, I am shocked by the comments on this board . . . I can't believe all of the trash talk about immigrants here. There is no need for it. The bottom line is that we need immigrants in this country. You can't turn back the clock to some mythical, magical time when we were all pure bred "Canadian". There never was such a time." - PhilippeTheriault
  
• "These are standard, boiler-plate immigrations issues that every country in the world deals with every day, and which represent a tiny percent of the immigration quota. Just let your bureaucrats do their jobs, and stop being such a drama queen. The sky is not falling." - Farenheit451
• "Boy, this debate is really drawing the bigots out of the bushes. I am a white immigrant from the UK but I don't see myself as any different than anyone else who enters this country trying to find a better life . . . the future of Canada depends on immigration - as it always has done." - mbegan
  

Thank you, as always, for following our coverage. Please feel free to continue the conversation below.

Related:

• Immigration: Does Canada do a good job of integrating newcomers?
• Top 5 at 5: Topless rights, citizenship crackdown and record heat