International students are worried about the potential impacts of federal legislation that has been proposed to strengthen the nation’s borders.

The NL chapter of the Canadian Federation of Students argues that Bill C-2, also known as the Strong Borders Act, “threatens the rights and safety of all newcomers to Canada.”

The organization states that the proposed legislation expands government surveillance and “erodes” privacy protections for newcomers.

They believe the bill gives the feds “unprecedented powers” to cancel immigration documents without due process, and puts international students at risk of losing their status overnight.

Chairperson Nicolas Keough says whether or not government would actually do that, it gives them the blanket power to do so which is “really scary.”

Keough has heard from several students who are worried.

He estimates that he has heard from about 100 people, some of whom wanted to go public but decided against it in fear of losing their own status.