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People who have an issue with immigration don't understand long term growth.
Originally coming from Toronto, my experience is the same as Baraka's. I lived in a racially diverse city. Interestingly, when I grew up in the suburbs, it was not quite as diverse. In one of the schools I attended, a recent immigrant, a black kid, from Jamaica was exotic (this was in the 70s in an old suburb). The demographics have shifted a lot since the 70s.
The area I lived in for High School was even more diverse. Our school had people from all over the world. Many of these students were first generation but some had arrived as young kids. The interesting thing, for me, was many of my friend's parents had trouble speaking English (or spoke with thick accents). Their kids, almost Universally, spoke English with no accent (other than the Canadian one). They were integrated.
People who rail against immigration are short term thinkers. They see people who don't speak English and rail. What they need to focus on is their kids (and grandkids).
Economic growth comes from the growth of your population. As indigenous population's birth rates continue to stagnate or drop, growth can only come from immigrants.
Interestingly, I moved from Toronto to Singapore. Singapore is like Toronto, quite racially diverse. It is a nation of immigrants. Even the population that was here to begin with is from elsewhere, if you go back far enough (ie China, India, other parts of the Malayan Peninsula). They are going through much of the same immigration issues here as well. Griping about people who don't speak English. Who appear to be loyal to another country, etc.
As a migrant worker, it is an eye-opening experience to be on the other side of the issue. I highly recommend it to anyone concerned with immigration.
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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke
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