I can completely relate to the OP I myself has been removed my the USA, came to canada illegally, I have a seriously criminality inadmissibility clause which prohibits me from getting a PR without some exemptions e.g H&C or Criminal Rehabilitation application. I submitted H&C coupled with PR and also submitted Rehabilitation applicationin 2018. Since 2018 I have not received any form of communication from them in relation to my application, not even to say "we received your application" no file number nothing. its been forever and I have not heard anything. My case is located on CANLII as well