Dhalla outlined her position on illegal immigration, pledging to deport undocumented immigrants and crack down on human trafficking if she is elected in a statement on social media.

“As prime minister, I will deport illegal immigrants and clamp down on human traffickers. That’s my promise to you,” she said in a video on Instagram.

“We are on the verge of creating history by electing the first woman of colour as the leader of the Liberal Party and the next prime minister of Canada.”

“Phase 1 is over, we go on to phase 2 and engage with liberals all across the country, who have signed up as members of our party,” Dhalla said.

Dhalla stated that her candidacy was not motivated by personal ambition. “I am not entering the race to lead the Liberal Party because I need a job. I am here because I believe in the future of our Party and our country. We need to take our Party back to the centre with policies that allow ordinary Canadians to succeed and flourish,” she said.

She faced tough competition from prominent figures, including former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney and former finance minister Chrystia Freeland.

Dhalla has positioned herself as an outsider to the current government, claiming Canadians want change. “Canadians don’t want Trudeau 2.0. To defeat the Conservatives, we need real change,” she tweeted.

Dhalla’s firm position on illegal immigration was often likened to the policies of US President Donald Trump, earning her the nickname “Female Donald Trump.”

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Former MP emerged as a prominent candidate in the Liberal Party leadership race, with ambitions to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, representing the Brampton-Springdale constituency from 2004 to 2011.

Dhalla was the first woman of Indian origin to become a Member of Parliament in Canada. During her tenure, she also stood out as one of the first Sikh women to serve in the House of Commons.

The Liberal Party leadership race will conclude on March 9, 2025, when the next prime minister will be announced.