Canada, Friendly to Immigrants

From the Economist, via Mark Thoma:

AS A matter of national policy, Canada actively solicits immigrants and has done so for years. The public supports this and the default political assumption is in support of continued immigration. According to a recent poll, only a third of Canadians believe immigration is more of a problem than an opportunity, far fewer than any other country included in the survey. Rather, Canadians are concerned about "brain waste" and ensuring that foreign credentials are appropriately recognised and rewarded in the job market? Being an immigrant is also no barrier to being a proper Canadian; in parliamentary elections earlier this month, 11% of the people elected were not native. This warm embrace isn't just a liberal abstraction; 20% of Canadians are foreign-born.

It's well-known that Canada is an outlier among immigrant nations, but it is nonetheless interesting to consider in reference to the ongoing and heated debate about immigration in the United States. Why is Canadian public opinion so different from views in United States?
At a conference yesterday, Jeffrey Reitz, a sociologist at the University of Toronto, cited two big explanations for the difference. The first was that Canadians are convinced of the positive economic benefits of immigration—to the extent that towns under economic duress are especially keen to promote immigration, because they believe immigrants will create jobs.

I just don't understand all the law-and-order folks in the U.S. saying they don't have a problem with immigrants, but not supporting giving out more visas.  I think the number of illegal immigrants since the last amnesty in 1986 was given as 12 million,  That is 500,000 per year, more or less.  I think this country could easily let in 1 or 2 million immigrants a year from Latin America and not have any problems.  From what I've seen, these immigrants are much harder working than many Americans, and very family oriented.  They may not quickly learn English, but their children will, and they will spur the economy.  I say start getting them visas.