| Illegal immigrants are people who are not legally | | | | illegal immigrants to Canada. |
| permitted to live in a country. Every year, hundreds | | | | Illegal immigration to Canada can be reduced by |
| and thousands of people attempt to enter Canada | | | | verifying social insurance numbers. In Canada, a social |
| illegally from Hungary, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, | | | | insurance number beginning with the number nine |
| Panama, Central America, Eastern Europe, Ireland and | | | | shows that the person holding it is not a citizen. The |
| other countries. Both the United States and Canada | | | | expiration date must be verified to make sure that |
| face serious illegal immigration problems. Failed | | | | the number is still valid. Human Resources and Skills |
| refugee claimants and people with expired visas are | | | | Development Canada can support problems in this |
| illegal immigrants. It is believed that about 8% of | | | | region. |
| foreigners attempt to enter Canada illegally. Another | | | | When compared to United States, illegal immigration |
| 64,000 people (8%) have expired visas. Some people | | | | to Canada is less. One can enter Canada either |
| enter the country as undocumented persons because | | | | illegally, or as a refugee, citizen, or permanent |
| of economic reasons. | | | | immigrant. Entering illegally should not be necessary in |
| As per an immigration report in 2003, the estimated | | | | Canada, because the country has the most liberal |
| number of undocumented people living in Canada is | | | | immigration and refugee entry laws in the world. |
| somewhere between 100,000 to 200,000. A few | | | | For political reasons, the Canadian government took |
| illegal immigrants exhaust all avenues of becoming | | | | the initiative to legalize undocumented people by |
| legal and continue to live, work and contribute to | | | | granting amnesty. Illegal immigrants in Canada are |
| Canada's economy for long. Increased security | | | | granted permanent immigrant status during these |
| protection in United States following September 11, | | | | amnesties. People who commit serious crimes are |
| 2001 has also resulted in an increase in the number of | | | | unlikely to get amnesty. |