Recently while looking for information regarding How to process visa application for my New Zealand trip next month I came across this post which said that there are many Canadians who have been now residing in the US with a residential visa. Upon going into the depths and verifying it, I find that the information on the site was accurate.
Have you ever heard of or read any stories about Canadian illegal aliens who are inappropriately residing in this country? Of course you have not. But, that is a reality in several states of the United States. Canadians have no problem coming into the USA, nor do they have any problem driving with their Canadian license, or an international license, nor are they asked for a resident alien visa if they are stopped for any reason whatsoever.
Yet, it is well known that there are high numbers of Canadians living in various parts of the USA without a residence visa. In an article from 2008, one new media outlet comments:
Since 2000, the number of Canadians living in New York City has more than doubled to over 21,000, myself included. In Manhattan alone, we make up the eighth-largest population of foreign-born residents. And there are between 70,000 and 99,000 unauthorized Canadians nationwide, according to the Urban Institute, a research firm that estimates figures based on population surveys. Although no one tracks the number living illegally in New York, the city continues to be a draw for my northern brethren.
But, of course, no one is worried about Canadians. As the author of the article comments of one Canadian, “With her blond hair and perfect English, she doesn’t look like the poster child for illegal immigration. She didn’t get here by scaling a wall or paying off Coyotes. But her blue eyes and slender cheek bones represent a new face in the city’s immigrant population: Canadians.”
But, it is hard to estimate the number of Canadians living illegally in the USA. After all, any Canadians in the USA who do not hold a job (retirees) would not really show up. And, it is doubtful that they would ever be found out as long as they would keep renewing their driver’s licenses in Canada. I have family in Miami. When I visit there, it is will known that Miami Beach has many Canadians who live there without any problem being caused to them.
So, why do we not hear about illegal Canadians? … Take a guess. My guess carries a rather negative opinion of Arizona, Alabama, and some other states previously involved in judging people by the color of their skin.
FrGregACCA says
So…..
What I want to know is, is it possible or feasible to live and work in Canada as an undocumented American?
Alec Haapala says
“there are between 70,000 and 99,000 unauthorized Canadians nationwide”
The illegal immigrant population of the United States in 2008 was estimated by the Center for Immigration Studies to be about 11 million people, down from 12.5 million people in 2007.[1] Other estimates range from 7 to 20 million.[2] According to a Pew Hispanic Center report, in 2005, 56% of illegal immigrants were from Mexico; 22% were from other Latin American countries, primarily from Central America;[3] 13% were from Asia; 6% were from Europe and Canada; and 3% were from Africa and the rest of the world.[3] -Wikipedia (yeah, I know, not reliable, but quick)
When 78% of the illegals are Canadian, maybe someone will notice.
Ingemar says
It might be because Canadians aren’t committing violent/property crimes in disproportionate numbers and driving property values down. Nor are they undercutting Americans in the labour market.
And because of orders of magnitude. Tens of thousands of illegal Canadians versus tens of millions of illegal Mexicans.
I agree (with qualification) that you should judge someone by the color of the skin. But with statistics in mind, skin color is a good proxy for the general criminality of an individual.
Liberals seem to be fond of the Apex fallacy.