Migration US case study Flashcards
What are the general patterns of US emigration and immigration?
in 2013 13% of the US population were immigrants - the main contributors were Mexico (28%) and India/China/Philippines (all at 5%)
In 2013 there were 3 million US citizens living abroad - main destinations being Mexico/Canada/UK - explained by the large number of families moving back to Mexico and people moving to countries with strong cultural links (Canada/UK).
Why is the USA attractive to immigrants?
Positive immigration policy (obtaining a green card)
Employment opportunities for both low and high skilled workers
Opportunity to send remittances
Educational opportunities and access to services such as health
The policy of refugee admission
What principles is US immigration policy based on?
The Immigration and Naturalisation Act is the body of law which governs immigration.
Reunification of families - 480,000 visas available per year for family members to join US citizens
Admission of migrants with skills valuable to the US economy - 140,000 visas available for highly skilled workers
protecting refugees - 2013 it was decided the ceiling would be 70,000
How can political, social and environmental interdependence be illustrated using the USA and Mexico?
In 2013 - 11.5 million refugees lived in the USA and 1 million Americans in Mexico.
Low skilled Mexicans, many illegal, contribute to the US economy by working in low-skilled areas.
Since the formation of NAFTA bilateral trade between the US and Mexico has grown - Reciprocal trade accounts for $1.4 billion per day.
Political relations remain imbalanced however there has been increased co-operation and coordination over issues such as drug trade and trafficking.
What opportunities are created by US international migration?
Immigrant populations take the low paid jobs Americans find unattractive - in 2013 78% of US Mexicans were employed in services.
US immigration policy also attracts highly skilled workers and well-qualified professionals - In 2013 the main employment of India (73%) and China (51%) was in business and science.
Most immigrants to the USA were of young working age groups.
Immigrants are consumers themselves which helps with job creation.
What challenges are created by US international migration?
An estimated 11.5 million illegal immigrants (6 million Mexican) live in the US - many other latin American countries are trying to use Mexico as a transit country to the US - Congress strengthened border control in 2015
Uneven progress of the integration of immigrant groups into US society - The size of the unauthorised population is also a barrier to social cohesion
Where immigrant populations are significantly concentrated supply of resources has become an issue - Such as water in Southern California
