This book presents a comparative analysis of immigration and immigrants in Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigrants refers to a comparative study of recent immigrant arrivals and the foreign-born in both Canada and the United States using an applied demographic framework. An applied demographic framework differs from a conventional demographic analysis by highlighting practical and policy issues related to three specific topics: size and change in a population; the demographic, social, economic, and cultural composition of the population; and the geographic distribution of the population.

The authors examine the ways in which immigration challenges are addressed and the effects that they have on the social and economic landscape of each country. By comparing the two countries side by side, it makes clearer how policy choices are made and their possible outcomes. A comparison of the two countries also contributes important knowledge on the role of immigration policies on immigration and immigrant integration.

By presenting temporal and comparative analysis, the research advances scholarly knowledge on immigration policies and  policy analysis in a broad range of social science fields, including demography, sociology, public policy, political science, and regional science.

Barry Edmonston is a Canadian demographer with extensive research on international migration and immigration policy in Canada, Europe, and the United States, and is currently affiliated with the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Sharon M. Lee is a sociologist with work and immigration-related research experience in Canada and the United States, and is currently affiliated with the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

David A. Swanson is: (1) Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Edward A. Dickson (2021) Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of California Riverside; (2) Research Associate, Population Research Center, Portland State University; (3) Faculty Affiliate, Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington; and (4) Research Fellow, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University.