Toronto - The Canadian government says it has begun the process of revoking citizenship from 3,100 people it says obtained it fraudulently.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Monday that in most of these cases, applicants paid a representative to prove they were living in Canada for the period of time required to establish residency when they were, in fact, living abroad.
The government says it is also investigating thousands of others who may have lied to obtain or maintain permanent residency. Kenney says anyone caught commiting fraud will be stripped of citizenship and residence status.
The minister says the actions are the result of a three-year crackdown on immigration fraud.
He says federal agencies have so far removed or denied admittance to more than 600 former permanent residents linked to the investigations. - Sapa-AP