Case study: USA, to show how it influences and drives change in the global migration system

Question 1

Describe the USA’s influence on global migration

Answer 1

The USA has a very high influence on global migration.
Nearly 45.3 million immigrants lived in the United States in 2021, the highest since census records began.

Question 2

What countries were the main contributors to the USA’s immigrant population?

Answer 2

Mexico (28%)
India(5%)
China (5%)
The Philippines (4%)
Puerto Rico (3.5%)
Vietnam, El Salvador, cuba, South Korea (3%)

Question 3

Describe 20th century growth in immigration?

Answer 3

Rapid growth, now slowly very slightly.

Question 4

what are the pull factors for the USA?

Answer 4

• Positive immigration policy (Green cards)
• Employment, low and high skilled
• Opportunities to send remittances
  -Educational opportunities
• The importance of family reunification within the migration policy
• Policy on refugee admission

Question 5

How many Americans live abroad?

Answer 5

Although the isa is a country of net migration gain, some 8 million Americans now live outside the USA. (Increased from 2 million in 2013)

Question 6

Where were the main countries to which American citizens emigrated

Answer 6

Mexico, canada, UK, Puerto Rico, Germany, Australia

Question 7

Outline US immigration policies

Answer 7

• Reunification of families (480,000 visa available per year)
• 140,000 Visas for valuable skills to US economy
• Protection of refugees in 2014, the ceiling was 70,000 divided by world region.
• Promoting diversity 50,000
• Temporary visas are available for those in need of humanitarian relief.

Question 8

Interdependence with countries linked by migration

Answer 8

• In 2020, 10.5 million Mexican born individuals lived in the USA. Each country has a large dispora living In the other.
• Low skilled Mexican workers (undocumented) contribute to the USA’s economy in sectors such as agriculture and construction. In 2014, migrant remittances to Mexico accounted for 2% of Mexicos GDP.
• Bilateral trade has been high since the formation of nafta.
• Political power relations remain unbalanced by there has been some co-ordination of common issues such as border security and Trafficking.

Question 9

Opportunities created by migration for the USA.

Answer 9

• Migrants take low paid, low skilled jobs which helps economy. (around 25% of manufacturing industry)
• USA migration policy also attracts highly skilled workers and artists etc. In 2013, the 51% of Chinese immigrants and 73% of Indian immigrants came over for business and science.
• Most immigrants are working age and with. declining crude birth rate and ageing population thesis socially beneficial.
• Immigrants are also consumers themselves.

Question 10

Difficulties created for USA by migration?

Answer 10

-An estimated 11.5 million illegal immigrants live in the USA. This creates issues for border security. The US have tightened their border through homeland security.
- There have been uneven progress integrating migrant groups into the USA made even harder by the lack of political and economic cohesion created by illegal migrants.
- Where immigrant population congregate, demand on supplies has become an issue. E.g. Water in California.