IMMIGRATION AND THE IMMIGRATION AND THE UNITED STATESUNITED STATES

CHAPTER 4

Immigration: A Global Immigration: A Global PhenomenonPhenomenon

• Can be a result of Push and Pull factors• Chain MigrationChain Migration

• Refers to an immigrant who sponsors several Refers to an immigrant who sponsors several other immigrants who upon their arrival may other immigrants who upon their arrival may sponsor still moresponsor still more

• Potent factor contributing to immigration globally• Most important aspect is that the immigrant

anticipates knowing someone that can help in adjustment

Patterns of Immigration to the Patterns of Immigration to the United StatesUnited States

• Three unmistakable patterns• Number of immigrants has fluctuated

dramatically over time due to government policy changes

• Settlement has not been uniform across the country but centered in certain regions and cities

• The source of immigrants has changed over time

Today’s Foreign-Born PopulationToday’s Foreign-Born Population• About 12% are foreign born• Six states account for 70% of total foreign

born population• California, New York, Florida, Texas, New

Jersey, Illinois• Approximately 32.5 million foreign born

people are from Latin America• Primarily Central America and Mexico

• Europeans account for less than 6% foreign born today

Early ImmigrationEarly Immigration• In 1790 English immigrants were the

dominant group, numerically 60% of the population, socially and politically

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

• Not all new arrivals were welcome• XenophobiaXenophobia

• Fear of hatred of strangersFear of hatred of strangers

• NativismNativism• Beliefs and policies favoring native-born citizens over Beliefs and policies favoring native-born citizens over

immigrantsimmigrants

The Anti-Chinese MovementThe Anti-Chinese Movement• Lured by discovery of gold and opening of job

opportunities in the West• Railroad provided the greatest demand

• White settlers found Chinese customs and religion difficult to understand

• SinophobesSinophobes• People with a fear of anything associated with People with a fear of anything associated with

ChinaChina• Fear of “yellow peril”“yellow peril”• Threat they posed as laborers

• Though many arguments were voiced, racial fears motivated the anti-Chinese movement and race was the critical issue

• 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 the US• Decline in legal immigration • Dramatically effected the structure of the Chinese

community and family

Restrictionist Sentiment IncreasesRestrictionist Sentiment Increases• The extension of restrictions from the anti-

Asian movement to European nationalities• 1908 – The Gentleman’s AgreementThe Gentleman’s Agreement was

signed• Prodded by anti-Japanese feelings• Japan agreed to halt further immigration to US

and US agreed end discrimination of Japanese in US

• Immigration ended but anti-Japanese feelings continued

• 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

and other parts of Asia not already excluded

• Curiously, law that closed the door on non-Anglo-Saxons yet permitted a waiver of the test if the immigrants came because of racial discrimination from their home governments

The National Origin SystemThe National Origin System• National Origins system 1920-1921 established National Origins system 1920-1921 established

quotas based on the percent of each (Nationality) quotas based on the percent of each (Nationality) ethnic group from the 1910 censusethnic group from the 1910 census• Drawn to block growing immigration from Southern

Europe, such as Greece and Italy• The National Origin SystemThe National Origin System

• Favored Northern and Western European immigrants over Southern and Eastern European immigrants

• Quotas went unfilled and immigration dropped• Backlog in other countries• Shaped the ethnic landscape of America

Immigration and Naturalization Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965Act of 1965

• Primary goals of the act was to reunite families and protect American labor market• Also initiated restrictions on immigration from Latin

America• NaturalizationNaturalization

• The conferring of citizenship on a person after birthThe 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

In 2000 and 2004,850,000 and 1,100,000 were legally admitted annually for the following reasons:• Citizen Family unification

• Spouses of citizens (11%)

• Children and adoptees (11%)

• Parents (8%)• Other residents (10%)

• Spouses of legal residents (10%)

• Employment based (16%)

• Refugees/political asylum seekers (7%)• Diversity (lottery among applicants from nations

historically sending few immigrants (5%)• Other (6%)

Contemporary Social ConcernsContemporary Social Concerns• Brain DrainBrain Drain

• The immigration to the United States of skilled workers, The immigration to the United States of skilled workers, professionals, and technicians who are desperately needed professionals, and technicians who are desperately needed by their home countriesby their home countries

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

resulting in an economic and social cost to the developing resulting in an economic and social cost to the developing nationsnations

• India

• Pakistan

• Philippines

• Several African nations

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

unequal distribution of world resources• By relying on foreign talent, US does not need

to take the steps necessary to encourage native members of subordinate groups to enter desirable fields of employment

• Population GrowthPopulation 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

• Legal immigration accounts for about 45-60% of nation’s growth

• To some, US is overpopulated• Sierra ClubSierra Club took official position restricting

immigration, recognizing more people puts greater strain on nation’s natural resources

• Patterns of uneven settlement in US expected to increase so impact on population growth will be felt more in certain areas

Illegal ImmigrationIllegal Immigration• Control of illegal or undocumented immigrants

most bitterly debated aspect of US immigration policy

• Exact number of undocumented or unauthorized workers is subject to estimates and disputes

• Illegal and even legal immigrants tied by the public to almost every social problem in the nation• Scapegoats for unemployment, “drug runners” & Scapegoats for unemployment, “drug runners” &

“terrorists”“terrorists”

• Cost of policing borders and locating illegal immigrants is sizable

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

who could document long term residency

• Conflict TheoryConflict Theory• Immigrants, primarily poor and Hispanic or Asian,

are being lodged at the bottom of the nation’s social and economic hierarchies

• Functionalist TheoryFunctionalist 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, continue to come because it is in their best economic interest

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

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

Economic Impact of ImmigrationEconomic 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)Remittances (Migradollars)• Money that immigrants return to their country of Money that immigrants return to their country of

originorigin• 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 impact aid to heavily burdened states

• Paradoxical situation• Strong economy and concerns about immigration• Suggests other concerns

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

Women and ImmigrationWomen 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 US citizenship – did not apply 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 The Global Economy and ImmigrationImmigration

• GlobalizationGlobalization• The worldwide integration of government policies, The worldwide integration of government policies,

cultures, social movements, and financial markets cultures, social movements, and financial markets through trade, movement of people, and exchange through trade, movement of people, and exchange of ideasof ideas

• TransnationalsTransnationals• Immigrants who sustain multiple social Immigrants who sustain multiple social

relationships linking their societies of origin and relationships linking their societies of origin and settlementsettlement

RefugeesRefugees• People living outside their country of People living outside their country of

citizenship for fear of political or religious citizenship for fear of political or religious persecutionpersecution

• Enough exist to populate an entire nation• US makes the largest contribution of any

nation to worldwide assistance programs• Resettles 70,000 refugees annually and

cumulatively hosted 1 million between 1990 and 2003

• Despite periodic public opposition, US government is officially committed to accepting refugees from other nations

• 1968 United Nations treaty on refugees1968 United Nations treaty on refugees• Countries are obliged to refrain from forcibly Countries are obliged to refrain from forcibly

returning people to territories where their lives or returning people to territories where their lives or liberty might be endangeredliberty might be endangered

• AsyleesAsylees• Foreigners who have already entered the US and Foreigners who have already entered the US and

now seek protection because of persecution or a now seek protection because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group, or political religion, nationality, social group, or political opinionopinion

QuestionsQuestions

• What are the functions and dysfunctions of immigration?

• What were the social and economic issues when public opinion mounted against Chinese immigration into the United States?

• Ultimately, what do you think is the major concern people have about contemporary immigration to the United States, the numbers of immigrants, their legal status, or their nationality?

• What principles appear to guide US refugee policy?

• Your Opinion!• Is it right or wrong, post 9/11, to Is it right or wrong, post 9/11, to

return refugees who may be fleeing return refugees who may be fleeing their homelands because of war, their homelands because of war, famine, or religious persecution?famine, or religious persecution?