Immigration Essay Research Paper 2

Immigration Essay, Research Paper

Immigration is amoung the most compelling issues with which we as a country are faced.

The overwhelming amount of human smuggling has set focus on the immigration laws in

Canada. Canadian immigration laws have been under fire by many protest groups who feel the

laws are both racist and sexist. The issues surrounding the work in which immigrant women are

restricted to has become quite a topic of argument. Historically immigration laws were

extremely racist and sexist orientated. It is claimed that the current immigration law is both non-

biased and fair, however there are many immigrants and Canadian citizens that would strongly

disagree. The media itself plays a huge role in how people form their views regarding

immigration. Many are confident that immigration promotes economic growth and keeps

Canada internationally competitive. However, there are others who express concern about the

impact in which immigration and citizenship policies are having upon the values and traditions

that form the foundation of Canadian society.

Immigration laws have become a very significant issue in Canadian society today. There

is much controversy over the process in which immigrants must undergo before being granted

Canadian citizenship. The increasing requirements for skilled workers, education entry level,

language requirements etc., are being seen as racist proposals for those who are trying to enter

the country. There are three basic categories immigrants can fall under; (1) Independent -

selected for their economic contribution, including skilled workers and business immigrants. (2)

Refugees – includes Convention refugees and other displaced persons resettled from abroad, with

government assistance or private sponsorship, and persons who have successfully claimed

Convention refugee status in Canada. (3) Family – close family members sponsored by a

Canadian citizen or resident, including spouses, fiances, dependent children, parents and

grandparents. Immigrants must meet the selection criteria for the category in which they are

applying. They must also undergo extensive medical examinations and background checks.

.Admission may be refused to persons whose medical condition represents a danger to public

health or excessive demand on health or social services, who have a criminal background, or

who are considered a security risk..

Canada is plagued by a history of racist immigration laws and policies. For decades

Canadian immigration law was influenced by a racist, inspired .White Canada. policy. It was

not until the 1960’s with the implementation of the points system that this policy was eliminated.

However a closer examination reveals that this racism and ethnic selectivity have not

disappeared. Striving to preserve the British character of Canada, authorities directed their

efforts towards excluding certain people from entry, while encouraging others to settle. The

Federal government decided in the early 1900’s to take action against Asian immigration and

devised different methods for discouraging immigration from China, Japan and India. Prime

Minister John A. Macdonald commented in the late 1800’s that a Chinese person .was a

sojourner in a strange land..and he has no common interest with us, he gives us his labour and is

paid for it and is valuable, the same as a threshing machine or any other agricultural implement

which we may borrow from the United States , or hire and return to its owner.. In order to

understand the racist implications associated with the immigration law of today we must first

understand how far it has come. In the early to mid 1900’s Orient immigrants or in fact any

immigrant that was not white was seen more of as a possession and source of labour rather than

a citizen. However, today.s laws are still discriminatory. The Federal governments immigration

proposal, privileges English-speaking, educated elites who are rich enough to afford

immigration. At the same time it denies those who are not fortunate enough to learn the English

language in their country of origin. There is also the requirement of at least grade 12 education.

In many countries, basic schooling only goes to grade 10 or 11, again a rejection that many of

these immigrants have no control over. Refugees are being treated as criminal from the moment

they are granted citizenship. Many argue that these refugees should not be forced to give

fingerprints and other requirements that are associated with criminals and criminal behavior.

Another argument against the federal immigration law is that refugee claimants should be

assessed, not by an employee of or a member of the Federal government, but by an impartial

group of legal representatives.

During a time in Canadian history when citizenship rights have been generally improving

for women, conditions have significantly deteriorated for domestic workers. The situation for

immigrant women

Внимание, отключите Adblock

Вы посетили наш сайт со включенным блокировщиком рекламы!
Ссылка для скачивания станет доступной сразу после отключения Adblock!

Скачать