Building Walls: Canadian Immigration in Trump Era (BAHA)
Over the last couple of days, news of President Trump’s disparaging comments about immigration from Caribbean and African nations has swept through the country. The justified outrage over the racist comments follows a year of anti-immigration sentiments from the executive and members of the Republican Party. Although the Trump Administration failed largely over the last couple of months to restrict immigration on comments alone, the president has instigated a wave of damaging anti-immigration attitudes within all levels of government and for all types of immigrants. The war on immigration expands to all countries. For Canadians, a primarily white nation that neighbors the United States, the effects of Trump’s anti-immigration America have bridged a wall between the neighbors.
Changes in Canadian Immigration
According to some AILA representatives, immigrating to the US from Canada has become significantly more difficult in the year since Trump’s election. Following the executive orderㅡ Buy American Hire American (BAHA)ㅡ Canadian natives both applying to live and living currently in the US have noticed the effect of the administrative change. Although there has been no official order to inhibit immigration from Canada, anti-immigration attitudes have affected applications. Through NAFTA and other work visa programs, Canada supplies thousands of high skilled workers, many of whom have experience increased paperwork and wait times with recent changes. Those currently residing in the US have reported challenges to green card applications and increases in the number RFEs. Overall, Canadians are finding it more and more difficult to come to the US with Trump in office.
Significance
The Trump Administration has made it clear: the executive does not support immigration. The problems with Canadian immigration serve as a litmus test for immigration from all countries. The restriction on immigration from a majority white, industrialized democracy proves that the Trump Administration has truly committed to tougher enforcement surrounding immigration.