Human Geo 3.4 Questions Flashcards
What factors influence policies toward immigrants and refugees?
- Public opinion (for or afainst admitting migrants).
- Economic (positive and negative impacts).
- Resources (ability to accomodate newcomers).
- International relations (humanitarian responsibility among family of nations).
What 4 types of immigration policies does the UN use to classify countries?
- Maintain the current level of immigration (120)
- Increase the level of imigration (24 countries, mostly in Europe and former Communist countries)
- Reduce the level of immigration (25 countries, including countries in Asia and Africa)
- No policy (27 countries).
What has the number of unauthorized immigrants been throughout history in the US?
In 2015, there are 11 million UIs living in the US. The number increased between 1990-2005, and after hitting a peak of 12.2 million in 2007, it declined because of reduced job opportunities in 2008-09, and the level still hasn’t returned to the pre-recession level, and is now less than the # leaving.
What is some more information about unauthorized immigrants according to the Pew Hispanic Center?
- Source country: 5.9/11 mil UI’s came from Mexico.
- Destination: 2.4 mil. lived in CA and 1.7 mil in TX.
- Children: 1/11 mil. were children. DACA policy permitted 690,000 individuals brought to the US as children to remain in the US legally.
- Years in the US: 61% of UI adults had lived in the US for 10 or more yrs.
- Labor force: 8 mil. UIs were employed in the US (5% of total US civilian labor force), more likely to be employed than average American in construction/ hospitality, but less likely in white-collar jobs.
What did the Emergency Quota of 1921 do in the US?
- Restriced the number of immigrants admitted from any country annually to 3% of the # of residents from that country living in the US in 1910.
- Limits weren’t set for professional workers and citizens of Latin American countries.
-Most immigrants would come from N & W Europe.
What were the contents of the Dillingham Commision’s report about Southern and Eastern Europe?
Immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe were inclined towards violent crime, resisted assimilation, and drove old-stock citizens out of some lines of work.
What are some key modifications to the Quota Act since 1921?
- 1924: For each country with native-born people in the Us, 2% of their number (based on the 1910 census) could immigrate each year.
- 1965: 170,000 from the Eastern Hemisphere and 120,000 from the Western Hemisphere.
- 1978: Global quota of 290,000, with a max of 20,000 per country.
- 1990: Global quota of 700,000.
What preferences has congress set for accepting immigrants?
- Family reunification
- Skilled workers (exceptionally talented pros)
- Diversity Lottery (A lottery under a diversity category for people from countries that historically sent few people to the US)
Which people are admitted without limit into the US?
Refugees, & spouses, children, and parents of US citizens.
How have Asians made especially good use of the priorities set by the US quota laws?
Many well-educated Asians enter the US under the preference for skilled workers. Once admitted, they can bring in relatives from Asia through family-based migration.
How many immigrants were process through Ellis Island?
Between 1892 and 1954, 12 million immigrants were processed there (more than 1/2 of all US immigrants during that period). After it closed, Ellis Island became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument in 1965.
What has the US done to its border with Mexico?
They have constructed a barrier covering about 1/4 of the 1/954 mile long border. Several large urban areas are situated on the border (like San Diego and Brownsville TX).
What is the joint US- Mexican International Boundary and Water Commission responsible for?
Keeping official maps and marking the border by maintaining 276 6-foot tall iron monuments built in the late 19th century and 440 15-inch-tall markers added in the 1970s.
What elements of immigration help to explain whether unauthorized migration helps or hurts the country?
- Border security: More effective border patrols would mean fewer UIs. However, many Americans oppose spending money to build more fences.
- Workplace: UIs take jobs that no one else wants, so most Americans support a path to citizenship & some work-related program to make them legal; they oppose raids on workplaces to round up UIs.
- Civil rights: Law enforcement officials identifying and deporting UIs could violate civil rights.
- Local Initiatives: Most Americans believe enforcement of UI is a federal gov’t responsibility and don’t support the use of local law enforcement. Some states along the Mexican border do favor it.
What are some different conditions for pedestrians and vehicles at different US-Mexico incoming border crossings?
- Driving across the border in urban areas (like at San Diego & Tijuana) can have heavy traffic.
- Foot crossing is legally possible in several places.
- In some places, the border runs through sparsely inhabited regions (like Sasabe, Arizona).
- Some crossings are in small towns.
