When Immigrants Push Back on Immigration: A Surprising Shift in Canada and the U.S

This morning, I was watching CNN’s Harry Enten break down some of the latest U.S. polling data on immigration. One stat stood out: some of the strongest support for immigration limits is coming from immigrant communities themselves.

It reminded me of research conducted last year for a Canadian not for profit client exploring public attitudes toward international student enrollment and immigration policy. Surprisingly, newcomers, especially recent South Asian immigrants, were among the most vocal in saying that Canada was allowing in “too many” immigrants, particularly in the form of student visas and temporary permits.

This isn’t just a Canadian phenomenon. Across the border in the U.S., the data tells a similar story.

The Numbers Behind the Sentiment

In the U.S., a 2024 Pew Research Center study found:

• Over 40% of Hispanic adults, most of whom are either immigrants or the children of immigrants, said the number of immigrants coming to the U.S. was “too high.”

• Among Asian Americans, concerns over illegal immigration and job competition are rising, particularly in working-class and suburban communities.

In Canada, recent polling by Leger and Environics shows a marked shift:

• 53% of all Canadians say the country is accepting too many immigrants, a record high.

• But among newcomers (arrived within the last 10 years), that figure jumps to nearly 60%, with particularly strong sentiments from South Asian communities in Ontario and British Columbia.

• In our my own qualitative work with South Asian families, concerns ranged from pressure on healthcare and education systems to a sense that “Canada has changed too fast” without ensuring housing and job opportunities for those already here.

Why Are Immigrants Turning Against Immigration?

This isn’t about xenophobia. It’s about lived experience.

Many immigrants worked hard, waited years, and followed complex legal pathways to settle in Canada or the U.S. Now they’re watching systems strained by record levels of temporary migration—often without the services, housing, or integration supports needed to make it sustainable.

It’s also about economic precarity. In both countries, high rents, rising grocery prices, and slow job growth are eroding the newcomer dream. People are asking: If things are this hard for us, how can the system take on even more?

A Cautionary Note for Policymakers

When immigrant communities themselves begin questioning immigration levels, it’s not just a political issue, it’s a legitimacy issue.

Both Canada and the U.S. have long relied on immigration to drive growth. But public support has been the bedrock of that model. If that cracks, especially among immigrant communities, the fallout won’t just be political, it will be cultural and economic.

Governments must be more transparent, manage flows with greater nuance, and, above all, ensure integration is backed by real capacity, not just quotas.

Final Thought

As someone who’s worked closely with immigrant communities for years, professionally and personally, I believe in the power of immigration to strengthen our societies. But I also believe in listening to the people closest to the issue. And right now, many of them are sounding the alarm.

It’s time for a recalibration, not of values, but of systems.