[KR: Why aren't there more undocumented immigrants in Canada? Is it the weather? Distance from Mexico? Or the smaller number of low-skill jobs? Or better enforcement? In order to rule out the former two, I made a bet with a colleague: I bet that there are more undocumented workers in Alaska (per worker, but perhaps even in total) than in Canada. It looks like the figures quoted in this story support my bet.
With that aside, here is a story on public opinion towards deportation and undocumented immigration in Canada, sent by Irene Bloemraad. I love the quote about Canada being a civil society!]
Canadians want illegal immigrants deported: poll
By Jack Aubry
The CanWest News Service (Canada), October 20, 2007
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=f86690ed-a2ed-447c-8be8-21ba5a3dd922
Ottawa — A majority of Canadians believe immigrants who are in the country illegally or after their visas expire should be deported, even if they have family ties in the country, a newly released government poll shows.
Conducted for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the national poll revealed that respondents didn’t make a distinction between ‘undocumented workers’ and ‘workers without the proper work permits,’ with nearly two-thirds of Canadians coming down hard on illegal immigrants because they did not follow the rules.
‘Half say that they feel the same way about immigrants who have studied in Canada and have the potential to contribute to this country but who are now here illegally because their visas have run out,’ said the poll summary. As well, a slight majority said immigrants who did not go through the proper application process should be deported despite the existence of family members already in the country.