Migration case studies Flashcards
How many immigrants were there in the USA as of 2013?
41.3 million immigrants in USA (13% of world total)
Why is the USA attractive to immigrants (pull factors)?
- positive immigration policy + possibility of getting green card, especially w family reunification
- low-skilled + highly-skilled employment opportunities
- comparatively high wages + remittances easy to send home
- good educational opportunities
- Good health services (although no free healthcare)
How many US citizens were living abroad as of 2013?
2.98 million US citizens living abroad
What are the main destinations US citizens emigrate to?
Mexico, Canada, UK, Puerto Rico, Australia and Israel
What explains the high numbers US citizens emigrating away?
This is mainly explained by the returning of migrants t their home countries, either as 1st generation permanent immigrants or 2nd generation US-born returnees.
Additionally, some highly skilled workers move abroad to work in IT and communications in countries with political/economic/historical ties like the UK and Canada
What migration policies exist in the USA?
Immigration and Naturalisation Act - body of la w that sets limit for number of permanent legal immigrants allowed to move to USA each year.
Current maximum of 675,000 permanent visas (green cards) available each year
The number of refugee admissions is decided on a year-to-year basis
Which country does the US have interdependence with and what is it referred to as?
Mexico - the world’s largest bilateral migrant corridor
How many Mexicans were living in the USA in 2013 and vice versa?
Over 11.5 million Mexicans lived in the US, and 1 million Americans lived in Mexico
How do low-skilled Mexican immigrants contribute to the US economy?
Many illegal, working in agriculture, construction + low-paid services. Often jobs where there is lack of domestic supply of labour.
What opportunity do the US’ higher wages provide for Mexican immigrants?
Wages in USA are much higher than in Mexico, opportunity of remittances- via formal channels amounted to $22 billion in 2013 - 2% of Mexico’s GDP
What has caused bilateral trade to grow between the USA and Mexico?
The formation of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). Mexican industry has particularly benefitted as FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) from w/in the US has prompted development of aerospace + IT sectors.
How has the US benefitted from migrants?
- Immigrant pop. take low paid jobs, native-Americans don’t want - Eg Mexican employment in US: 31% services, 25% manufacturing, 22% production + transport
- US immigration policy aims to attract highly skilled + well-qualified professionals - (2013) main employment of immigrants from China + India was in business + science
- Most immigrants are in young working age groups - can be of benefit to US as birth rate declined + has ageing population
- Immigrants are consumers themselves - helps creation of more jobs + generates income + wealth for others
What challenges does the US face due to migration?
- Around 11.5 million unauthorised immigrants live in US - meaning enormous border control systems needed - around 6 million from Mexico
- Where immigrant pop become concentrated, supply of resources + services can become an issue - problems w/ water supply exist in already drought prone southern California
- Uneven progress w integration of immigrant groups - political integration is also prevented when immigrants are illegal
In 2013, how many Laos-born emigrants lived abroad and where?
- In 2013, 1.29 million Laos-born emigrants lived abroad - 930,000 in Thailand, 200,000 in USA
In 2013, how many foreign-born immigrants lived in Laos?
- 10,000 from Vietnam + other 10,000 from Asian nations such as China, Thailand + Cambodia
