“If So-and-So wins the election, I’m moving to Canada.”
Chances are it’s an idle threat, but the search engines handling queries from the United States about immigration to Canada spiked some 1,150 percent on Super Tuesday. But is it even possible? We turned to Monica Gomez Isaac, executive director of George Mason University’s Institute for Immigration Research for answers.
“While Canada is one of the most immigrant-friendly nations, their focus is on allowing people to come in that have skills that are desirable, unique or useful to the Canadian economy, as is especially seen in their new entrepreneur visa,” Gomez Isaac said.
The last mass exodus from America to Canada was during the Vietnam War, when between 30,000 and 70,000 Americans fled the United States to avoid the draft.
But leaving because of a particular political leader is not the same fundamental complaint that a pacifist has for avoiding a war, Gomez Isaac said.
In other words, “Trump is not the same as actually fighting in combat. Those are two very different things.”
She also noted that although many Americans were unhappy with the election of George W. Bush and searches for immigration information increased as a result, the logistical, legal and financial considerations kept people from acting on those plans.
“There are many basic needs questions that need to be answered, such as housing and employment, especially for temporary migration into Canada,” she said. “ I don’t know if individuals think of those things.”
“In the U.S. you have individual freedoms you don’t find in other parts of the world. It’s hard to renounce your background and your freedoms because you may be discouraged with who enters the White House.”
“One of the best ways to exercise one’s ability to create change or try and shape who the leadership is for the country is to take advantage of what is available in terms of democracy,” she added. “Try to redirect the negative energy that is present, be involved in the election process instead of saying ‘I’m just going to leave.’ If a candidate is so abhorrent you do not wish to participate in a society that elects him/her, then be the voice that changes that election’s result.”
Reach Monica Gomez Isaac at 703-993-5833 or mgomezis@gmu.edu.