Five reasons why immigrants should be against illegal immigration into Canada

The federal government likes to hide behind the fact that the asylum claims system is in no way affecting Canada’s immigration stream. While this is true in a bureaucratic sense (the asylum process is handled by a separate entity), in principle, this is not the case. Illegal immigrants are individuals who cross the border at unofficial points of entry. Upon crossing they are questioned and arrested by border officials and processed through proper channels. Once across the border they can claim to seek asylum and then must wait to have their hearings heard. If successful, the individual would receive protected status as a refugee, but if their claim is faulty, their stay in Canada is considered illegal and they would be deported back to their country of origin. Honest immigrants who struggled to jump through the many hoops required to live in Canada are the first to suffer insult from how the government has handled illegal border crossings. I immigrated to Canada nearly 16 years ago. I’m strongly against the illegal immigration that’s happening at our borders and here are five reasons why…

1. They had to show proof of a minimum of $12000 in funds

According to a Government of Canada website, skilled immigrants must show that they have enough money “to pay the costs of living for your family”. This means that an individual hoping to immigrate to Canada must have anywhere from $12,475 to $33,014 of accessible funds (like cash) readily available to them upon arriving. Proof of funds ensures that immigrants will not overly rely on government safety nets to get started and can actually support their spouses and children once they are here.

2. They had to undergo invasive medical examinations before being approved

Before immigrating to Canada, an individual must provide several medical biometrics to prove they don’t have any serious or terminal illness that could be a public hazard or an unnecessary strain on the healthcare system. Blood tests, urine, physical examinations and even x-rays are all required before being approved as a new immigrant into Canada. While a hopeful candidate has to undergo these invasive procedures and can potentially be denied, illegal border crossers are coming across the border to gain access to our healthcare system even with Stage 4 cancer.

3. They likely had to arrange their own housing accommodations

While illegal border crossers are being housed on the public’s dime in hotels and shelters across Ontario, most newcomers to Canada have to find housing on their own. When my family and I moved to Canada, my father hadn’t even seen the apartment we were renting before we moved in. Instead of relying on scarce government housing which can be put to better use for those in need, immigrants generally find their own living accommodations before arriving.

4. They were required to wait up to a year in their own country before having their claim approved

A skilled immigrant has to wait anywhere from 6 months to a year before having their application processed by the government. During this time they are waiting in their countries of origin. In the meantime, illegal border crossers get access to Canada’s social welfare system and free housing while their refugee claim hearings are drawn out and delayed. Since November 16, the backlog of asylum claims has ballooned to over 28,000 applications. Another refugee claimant was even notified that their asylum hearing was not scheduled until January of the year 2030, meaning the individual would have to spend 12 years waiting within the country. Even when claims are proven to be faulty and illegitimate, illegal immigrants face an exceedingly slow deportation time hampered by appeals. So far in 2018, Canada has only deported 296 illegal immigrants out of a total of 35,000 border crossers.

5. They were evaluated based on the points system

Skilled immigrants hoping to come to Canada are evaluated based on a rigorous points system. The system ensures that Canadian hopefuls are educated, have language skills, have arranged employment and can easily adapt to Canadian life. None of this applies to the thousands streaming over our border every month. Illegal immigrants do not have to prove any language skills in English or in French and likely have no pre-arranged employment in Canada.