migraion USA case study

Question 1

When did President Reagan sign in the immigration act?

Answer 1

1986

Question 2

What was the name of the Act signed by Reagan in 1986 and what did it do?

Answer 2

immigration Reform Act

Granted amnesty to over 3 million unknown migrants (aliens)

Question 3

How many migrants lived in USA in 2013?

Answer 3

41.3 million

Question 4

What are some of the major pull factors to the USA?

Answer 4

Economic opportunities
Lifestyle (Bright Light Syndrome)
American Dream
Education

Question 5

What are some of the major economic opportunities in USA (low and high skilled)?

Answer 5

Low: Retail, agriculture
High: Technology, Silicon Valley

Question 6

What does the ‘American Dream’ involve?

Answer 6

Prosperity
Land of freedom
Right to work

Question 7

What is the major factor leading to emigration?

Answer 7

Migrants become American citizens -> Start a family -> Then go home and take family with them

Question 8

What is the name of the US migration policy?

Answer 8

Immigration and Naturalisation Act

Question 9

What does the US migration policy allow?

Answer 9

Annual limit of 675 000 permanent migrants worldwide

Question 10

What is the US migration policy based on?

Answer 10

Family reunification
Protecting refugees
Visa for skilled workers

Question 11

What does ‘Invisible Population’ refer to?

Answer 11

The people who are living in a country that are not known about
They do not pay tax and don’t have health care/education access

Question 12

What is the major US migrant bilateral corridor?

Answer 12

US - Mexico

Question 13

How many of each of US and Mexico populations live within the other (2013)?

Answer 13

11.5 million Mexicans lived in USA

1 million Americans lived in Mexico

Question 14

What does protectionism refer to?

Answer 14

Barriers to international trade to protect domestic industries

Question 15

What is NAFTA?

Answer 15

North American Free Trade Agreement

Question 16

How much money does merchandise produce per day (US and Mexico)

Answer 16

$1.4 billion

Question 17

What is the USA and how much influence does it have on the global migration system?

Answer 17

It is an AC in North America and has a very large influence, driving change in the global migration system

Question 18

How many immigrants were living in the USA in 2013? What percentage of the entire population is this?

Answer 18

41.3 million - 13% of the entire population

Question 19

How many nationalities in the USA have a population of over 1 million in the country? How many with over 50,000?

Answer 19

9 with >1,000,000 people

78 with >50,000 people

Question 20

Which countries are the main contributors to the migrant population?

Answer 20

Mexico (28% of foreign born residents)
China (5%)
India (5%)

Question 21

Why is immigration slowing and patterns of immigration changing in the USA?

Answer 21

Deceleration of Mexican influx, tightening of border control, increasing numbers of Mexican returnees. Mostly of Hispanic origin, although in recent years there has been increasing economic migration from Asian countries like India and China due to wage differentials and better quality of life

Question 22

Why is the USA attractive to immigrants?

Answer 22

USA has had a positive immigration policy - possibility of obtaining a green card (permanent residency)
Employment opportunities for both high and low-skilled workers
Wage differentials and opportunities to send remittances - 2x amount for an hour of agricultural work in USA than a day in Mexico
Education and healthcare opportunities (as well as other services)
Importance of family reunification
Policy of refugee admission

Question 23

Describe and explain patterns of emigration from the USA

Answer 23

Country of net migration gain, but in 2013 were 3 million US citizens living abroad and that number is growing
Main destinations are Mexico, Canada, UK, Germany, Puerto Rico
Explained to large extent by return to Mexican families and American-born children
Highly skilled workers in education, communication, IT have migrated to countries with political, economic or historical ties (e.g. Canada, UK, other EU countries)

Question 24

Describe migration policies in America

Answer 24

Immigration and Naturalisation act - the body of law which governs the current immigration policy
- 675,000 permanent visa given each year (limit)
- 480,000 for family reunification
- 140,000 for highly skilled workers (valuable to US economy) - normally sponsored by employers for a specific job offer
- 70,000 for protecting refugees (number decided each year, this value is for 2013)
- 50,000 for promoting diversity - drawn by random selection of individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the USA - mostly African countries
Temporary visas are also available for humanitarian relief after natural disasters or ongoing armed conflict

Question 25

What is the world’s largest bilateral corridor? Give statistics

Answer 25

That between Mexico and the USA - in 2013 were over 11.5 Mexicans living in the USA and 1 million Americans living in Mexico - each country has its largest diaspora living in the other - growing cultural and social connectivity

Question 26

Why are there so many Mexicans in the USA and what do they contribute?

Answer 26

They are bordering countries. Mexicans are attracted by much higher wages and need for low-paid low-skilled jobs - working in agriculture, construction. There are opportunities for remittances, which make up 2% of Mexico’s GDP

Question 27

How has NAFTA affected bilateral trade?

Answer 27

Bilateral trade has grown significantly since the formation of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) - Mexican industry has benefited (e.g. from the development of aerospace and IT sectors - boosted mainly by FDI from the USA

Question 28

Political power relations between Mexico and the USA remain imbalanced, but how is this being improved?

Answer 28

Through increasing cooperation and coordination over issues the two countries have in common, for example border security, drug trade, human trafficking, environmental issues such as water scarcity - there has been joint management of the Colorado river basin and ecology of the Sonoran desert.

Question 29

How does USA international migration create opportunities for low-skilled workers? How does this have a positive impact on the USA

Answer 29

Immigrant populations take many of the low-paid jobs which native-born Americans find unattractive - provide significant contribution to GDP and US economic growth and means the required services are carried out more effectively and efficiently

Question 30

How does the USA immigration policy attract highly skilled and well-qualified professionals ant contribute to its economy and society?

Answer 30

140,000 visas given out annually - include ‘persons of extraordinary ability’ in arts, science, IT, education, athletics, business, all of which contribute to a richer society and have a positive impact on the economy, making services more effective and efficient and developing technologies. Outstanding professors and researchers are being attracted as well to improve education which also contributes to society and the economy. Most immigrants from China and India are employed in business or science

Question 31

Why is the fact that most immigrants to the USA are in young working age groups of benefit to the country?

Answer 31

The USA has an ageing population, meaning that having more young capable workers from abroad is of economic and social benefit, e.g. as they contribute to the tax base and carry out work more effectively, filling in more required jobs and services