Chapter 4 Immigration. Immigration: A Global Phenomenon Can be a result of Push and Pull factors Chain Migration –A–An immigrant who sponsors other immigrants.

Chapter 4

Immigration

Immigration: A Global Phenomenon

• Can be a result of Push and Pull factors

• Chain Migration– An immigrant who sponsors other immigrants

who upon their arrival may sponsor still more– Potent factor contributing to immigration

globally

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Patterns of Immigration to the United States

• Three unmistakable patterns– Immigrantion has fluctuated dramatically over

time due to government policy changes– Settlement has not been uniform across the

country; centered in certain regions and cities– The source of immigrants has changed over

time


Today’s Foreign-Born Population

• About 12-13% are foreign born

• Six states account for two-thirds of total foreign born population

• Approximately 38.5 million foreign born people are from Latin America

• Europeans account for less than 1 in 7 of the foreign born today


Early Immigration

• 35% of all immigrants to US eventually emigrated back to their home country

• Not all new arrivals were welcome– Xenophobia– Nativism

• Beliefs and policies favoring native-born citizens over immigrants


The Anti-Chinese Movement

• Lured by discovery of gold and opening of job opportunities in the West– Railroad provided the greatest demand

• Sinophobes– People with a fear of anything associated with

China– Threat they posed as laborers


The Anti-Chinese Movement

• Conflict Theory– Chinese were welcomed only when their labor

was necessary– Restrictions were not applied evenly

• Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882– Denied naturalization rights to Chinese in US– Decline in legal immigration


Restrictionist Sentiment Increases

• The extension of restrictions from the anti-Asian movement to European nationalities

• 1908 – The Gentleman’s Agreement was signed– Prodded by anti-Japanese feelings– Japan halted further immigration to US & US

agreed end discrimination of Japanese in US


Restrictionist Sentiment Increases

• Two types of immigrants: old and new

• New immigrants were seen as a threat to democracy and the American way of life

• 1917 Congressional Bill on immigration– Included controversial literacy test– Prohibited immigration from South Sea

Islands & other parts of Asia not excluded


The National Origin System

• Established quotas based on percent of each ethnic group from the 1910 census– Drawn to block growing immigration from

Southern Europe, such as Greece and Italy

• The National Origin System– Quotas went unfilled and immigration dropped– Backlog in other countries


Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965

• Primary goals were to reunite families and protect American labor market– Also initiated restrictions on immigration from

Latin America

• Naturalization– The conferring of citizenship on a person after

birth



• Rules for naturalization– 18 years of age; Continuous resident for 5

years (3 years for spouses of citizens)– Good moral character (absence of criminal

offenses)– Ability to read and write ordinary English– Pass a test in U.S. government and history



• Legally admitted for the following reasons:– Citizen Family unification– Spouses of legal residents – Employment based– Refugees/political asylum seekers– Diversity – Other


Contemporary Social Concerns

• Brain Drain– Skilled workers, professionals, & technicians

desperately needed by their home countries

• H-1B Visas– Permanent work permits to highly skilled

immigrants resulting in an:• Economic & social cost to the developing nations



• Conflict Theory– Views brain drain as another symptom of the

unequal distribution of world resources– US does not need to take the steps necessary

• To encourage native members of subordinate groups to enter desirable fields of employment



• Population Growth– US is continues to accept large numbers of

permanent immigrants• Nation’s birth rate has decreased so consequently,

contribution of immigration is more significant

– Immigration accounts for about 50% of nation’s growth



– To some, US is overpopulated• Sierra Club took position restricting immigration

– Recognizing more people puts greater strain on nation’s natural resources

– Patterns of uneven settlement in US expected to increase

• Mixed-Status Families


Language Barriers

• Bilingualism: – Use of 2+ languages in work or education and

the treatment of each language as legitimate

• Bilingual education: – Program designed to allow students to learn

academic concepts in their native language • While they learn a second language


Illegal Immigration

• Control of illegal or undocumented immigrants bitterly debated

• Exact number of undocumented or unauthorized workers subject to estimates

• Illegal and legal immigrants tied by public to almost every social problem in a nation– Unemployment, “drug runners” & “terrorists”


Illegal Immigration

• Cost of policing borders and locating illegal immigrants is sizable

• Immigration and Reform Act of 1986 (IRCA)– Historic change in immigration policy– Amnesty granted to 1.7 million illegal

immigrants; document long term residency


Illegal Immigration

• Conflict Theory– Immigrants, primarily poor and Hispanic or

Asian• Are being lodged at the bottom of the nation’s

social and economic hierarchies


Illegal Immigration

• Functionalist Theory– Employers, by paying low wages, are able to

produce goods and services • That are profitable for industry and affordable to

consumers

– Despite poor working conditions often experienced by illegal immigrants:


Illegal Immigration

• They continue to come because it is in their best economic interest

• Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996– Emphasized more effort to keep immigrants

from entering the country illegally• No access to social security and welfare


Path to Citizenship

• Naturalization: – Citizenship is conferred on a person after birth– This is a process outlined by Congress and

extends to foreigners the same benefits:• Given to native-born United States citizens


Economic Impact of Immigration

• Much public and scholarly debate

• Most significant factor is whether a study examines national impact of immigration – Or only its effect on a local area

• Many hold stereotypical belief that immigrants end up on welfare – And cause increase in taxes



• Remittances (Migradollars)– Money that immigrants return to their country – Widely recognized as critical to the survival to

millions of households worldwide– States have sought legal redress because

federal government has not seriously • Considered granting aid to heavily burdened states



• Paradoxical situation– Strong economy and concerns about

immigration– Suggests other concerns

• Ethnic & racial tension more important in explaining current attitudes toward immigration


Women and Immigration

• Men dominate much of labor migration worldwide

• Diversified labor force in US and policies that facilitate relatives coming– US immigration has been fairly balanced

• Second-class status of women in society is reflected in immigration



– 1907-1922• Women who married immigrants who were not

citizens lost their citizenship –not applied to men

• Immigrant women face additional challenges– Responsibility of navigating the new society

when it comes to services for their family



– Males are more consumed with work leaving adult women to navigate bureaucracies

• City services, schools, medical facilities, stores, and markets

– Less likely to seek outside help for medical care or issues of domestic violence

– More likely to be the liaison for the household


The Global Economy and Immigration

• Globalization– The worldwide integration of government

policies, cultures, social movements• And financial markets through trade, movement of

people, and exchange of ideas


The Global Economy and Immigration

• Transnationals– Immigrants who sustain multiple social

relationships – Linking their societies of origin and settlement


The Environment and Immigration

• The public expressed growing concern on a variety of environmental issues– From water quality to global warming

• Environmental factors are behind a significant amount of world migration

• Up to 200 million people may move due to environmental factors from 2005 & 2050


Refugees

• People living outside their country for fear of political or religious persecution

• Enough exist to populate an entire nation

• US makes the largest contribution of any nation to worldwide assistance programs– Resettles 70,000 refugees annually


Refugees

• US government is officially committed to accepting refugees from other nations

• 1968 United Nations treaty on refugees– Countries obliged to refrain from forcibly

returning people to territories • Where their lives or liberty might be endangered


Refugees

• Asylees– Foreigners who have already entered the US

and now seek protection because of • Persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution • Based on race, religion, nationality, social group,

or political opinion


Chapter 4 Immigration. Immigration: A Global Phenomenon Can be a result of Push and Pull factors Chain Migration –A–An immigrant who sponsors other immigrants.

Documents

immigration slide

pearson education

patterns of immigration

legal immigration

growing immigration

early immigration

denied naturalization

new new immigrants