Migration Case Study: USA (AC)

Migration Case Study: USA (AC)

1. PATTERNS OF EM/IM-MIGRATION

   • 2013: 41.3 Mil Immigrants living in the USA; 13% of total pop
     • 78 nationalities w/ over 50,000 ppl each
   • Main contributors to migrant pop in 2013 were Mexico (28%), India (5%), China (5%)
   • Recent signs of increase slowing
   • Attractions include:
     • Positive immigration policy & possibility of obtaining a green card
     • Employment opps for both low and high skilled workers
     • Wage differentials & opp to send remittances
     • Education and access to health services
     • Importance of family reunification within the migration policy
     • Policy on refugee admission
   • USA has net migration gain but in 2013, there were 2.98 mil US citizens living abroad and the number is growing
     • Main destinations were Mexico, Canada, UK, Puerto Rico and Germany

2. MIGRATION POLICIES

   • Immigration and Naturalisation Act = current body of law governing immigration policy
     • Allows an annual worldwide limit of 675,000 permanent IMs; separate number for refugee admissions
   • What the policy is based on:
     • Reunification of families - 480,000 visas are available per year for family members to join US citizens/ legal residents
     • Admission of migrants w/ skills valuable to the US economy - 140,000 visas available (limits per country) for highly skilled workers normally sponsored by an employer for a specific job offer
     • Protecting refugees: in 2013, the ceiling was 70,000 apportioned by major world region
     • Promotion of diversity: Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes 50,000 IM. visas - in 2015 these went mostly to African countries
     • Humanitarian Relief: temporary visas are available for relief from natural disasters or ongoing armed conflict

3. INTERDEPENDENCE W/ COUNTRIES LINKED TO USA BY MIGRATION

   • Bilateral migrant corridor between USA and Mexico
     • Reciprocal merchandise trade alone accounts for US$1.4 bil per day
     • Mex industry has benefited, i.e. development of aerospace and IT sectors have been boosted mainly by FDI from the USA
   • 2013: over 11.5 million Mexicans lived in the USA and 1 mill Americans in Mex - Each of the two countries has its largest diaspora living in the other; growing social and cultural connectivity
   • Low skilled Mexicans, many illegal, contribute to the US econ by working in agr, construction & low-paid services
   • Political power relations remain imbalanced; increasing co-ordination and co-operation over common issues such as border security, the drug trade, human trafficking and environmental issues (water scarcity)

4. OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

   • Mainly hispanic migrants but pattern is changing as a result of deceleration of the Mexican influx, tightening border control, inc num of Mexican returnees & growth in the num of Asian migrants
   • Opportunities
     • IM pop mainly take low-paid jobs, that Americans find unattractive. In 2013: main employment of Mex IMs was 31% in services, 25% in natural resources, construction and manufacturing
     • US IM policy aims to attract highly skilled and well-qualified professionals; including 'Persons of extraordinary ability'
       • In 2013, main employment of immigrants from both China (51%) and India (73%) was in business and science
     • Most IMs are of young working age, this contributes economically (i.e. taxes) and socially, as the country has a crude birth rate and ageing pop
     • Consumerism
   • Challenges
     • Estimated 11.5 mil unauthorised immigrants (6mil Mexican) live in the USA - many latin Americans who used Mexico as a transit country
       • US Department of Homeland Security has tightened its Southern maritime, southern land and west coast borders w/ more border patrol agents
       • In December 2015, Congress passed new IM bills, strengthening the legal mechanisms for Refugee Security Screening and Counter-Terrorism
     • Uneven progress in the integration of immigrant groups into US Society; size of the unathourised populations can pose as a barrier to social cohesion and full economic and political integration
     • Where IM pops are particularly concentrated and numerous, supply of resources and services has become an issues - i.e. adding to demand for water supply in S California