Social Issues Project - Assignment Example

Download file to see previous pages... Canada, generally, views immigration as a positive force in Canadian society, however not all Canadians share that belief and feel that new reforms are now needed and have been for some time. In America the extreme openness to immigration does have a tremendous downside. Because America has rather unrestrictive and varying immigration policies the result is an enormous population of undocumented immigrants residing within The U.S. borders. That said, finding a solution is no easy task. Finding a balance between ethical and beneficial solution for, both, the undocumented immigrants and the country as a whole is at the core of many heated debates. Some Canadians and Americans alike are beginning to wonder if their governments have not been negligent. However, there are multitudes of political ideologies that have very concise and clear interpretations about the correct way to conduct the topic of immigration. Fascism and anarchism offer extreme and diametrically different beliefs and approaches to the function of society, government, and the individual. . Background The Canada and the United States are similar in some ways, but in others they are quite different. The United States is decidedly a republic democracy, while Canada is a social democracy. A social democracy, which is not the same as a socialist country, blends the socialist concepts like universal healthcare, but maintains a free-enterprise and capitalist economy.("Social Democracy") Immigration to Canada and the United States throughout the proper processes has and continues to be the means by which they open their arms to immigrants from all over the world. While Canada approves the inclusion of 100,000s of immigrants through the prescribed legal means, in America, not every immigrant who wishes to go there follows the proper channels. Illegal immigration has become a serious problem that raises a number of ethical, logical, and real concerns that do require serious consideration. There are currently 11.5 million people in the United States who are not legally authorized to be there.(Ewing 3-4) The number one ethnic group in question in relation to undocumented immigration is presently Latin/Hispanic immigrants from Mexico or the offspring of undocumented parents. Canada does not have an issue at all with illegal immigration, primarily because of its location. Canada is essentially blocked by the United States, lowering the likelihood that anyone would keep going to reach the Canadian border.("Economist" 1) Canada welcomes immigrants, but that does not prevent them having a stricter admittance policy for immigrants than the United States. In Canada you must submit to medical and criminal background screenings before you will be considered, also, immigrants must pass a language proficiency, which makes transitioning to Canadian society easier. The United States has always had relatively open immigration. For a short time the government began implementing stricter immigration regulation, including an immigrant and ethnic quota system. Latin/Hispanics were never part of that quotas system until 1970s. The year that Latin and Hispanic immigrants were included in the quotas was, also, the last year that the quota system was imposed.(Ewing 4-5) One of most prominent differences between The United States and Canada is their perception ...Download file to see next pagesRead More