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Let $M^3$ be a compact, orientable, irreducible 3-manifold with incompressible boundary. Let $S\subseteq\partial M$ be one of its boundary components. Does $\pi_1(M)$ induce the full profinite topology on the subgroup $\pi_1(S)$? Namely, for any finite index subgroup $H\le \pi_1(S)$, does there exist a finite index subgroup $K\le \pi_1(M)$ such that $K\cap \pi_1(S)\subseteq H$?

This is equivalent to say that for any finite cover $\widetilde{S}$ of $S$, does there exist a finite cover $p: \widetilde{M}^\ast \to M$ such that a component $p^{-1}(S)\to S$ factors through $\widetilde{S}$?

Note that Long-Niblo showed that $\pi_1(S)$ is separable in $\pi_1(M)$, i.e. closed in the profinite topology. So my question is also equivalent to whether every finite index subgroup of $\pi_1(S)$ is also separable in $\pi_1(M)$.

The result holds when the boundary of $M$ is a collection of tori, based on the JSJ-decomposition and the finite covers constructed by Hamilton.

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    $\begingroup$ @MoisheKohan: this isn't quite right. Liu discovered that many 3-manifold groups, including many virtually special ones, are not LERF: arxiv.org/abs/1406.4674 . $\endgroup$
    – HJRW
    Commented Jul 31 at 19:12
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    $\begingroup$ It should be possible to answer this question using Hongbin Sun's characterisation of separable subgroups of 3-manifold groups: arxiv.org/abs/1805.08580 . $\endgroup$
    – HJRW
    Commented Jul 31 at 19:16
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    $\begingroup$ @HJRW: Yes, I misremembered. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 31 at 19:36
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    $\begingroup$ @HJRW: Sun and Liu's result is sufficient for an affirmative answer to my question, thanks. $\endgroup$
    – YC Su
    Commented Aug 3 at 13:03
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    $\begingroup$ Great! It could be nice to summarise how to apply their results in an answer to this question. $\endgroup$
    – HJRW
    Commented Aug 3 at 19:25

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This is also proved by Wilkes in Corollary 6.20.

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