The Stranger in Our Midst: A Sketch of the Legal Status of the Alien in Canada

Abstract

In every century, in every land, foreigners have been suspect. The alien is the universal victim of national prejudice, the object of fear and distrust. He is a stranger and society has lent emphasis to his condition by attaching to him legal disabilities — either boldly by statute, or more subtly through judicial pronouncement. Once prejudice toward an alien manifests itself in discriminatory treatment, the interests of another nation are involved. If that person is an alien friend, that is if no state of war exists between his country and the land in which he is residing, an international cause of action may exist.