In Canada, immigration is driven by the needs of the labor market. Employers posts their demands for workers, and when the match is found with a person applying for immigration, that particular foreigner is allowed to come and take a job waiting for him or her. Hence, an honest employer has no need to hire an illegal immigrant.

As a result of this policy, foreign-born are about 20% of Canada’s population.

The United States economy is not much different, but foreign-born are only 13% of the population, and 4 % are illegal immigrants. That 7% difference between 20% in Canada and 13% in the United States is the key. With a population of 331 million, 7% of it is 23 million people that the American economy needs to match Canada’s balance. American employers need that 23 million people. Canadians do not have that need.