Net In-Migration: # of immigrants greater than # of
emigrants
 Net Out-Migration: # of emigrants greater than # of
immigrants
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Worldwide # of migrants has increased historically
as travel has improved

Immigrants from LDCs form an increasingly large
proportion of many MDCs population

Forced: no choice but to leave because of dire political,
economic, social, or environmental causes (ex: African
slave trade, Trail of Tears)

A refugee is…. Any person who is outside any country of
such person’s nationality . .
 who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is unable
or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the
protection of that country . . .
 because of persecution or a well-founded fear of
persecution . . .

on account of:
race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular
social group, or political opinion.
 Refugees forced out or leave b/c fear of persecution or
death
▪
▪
▪
▪
No home until another country allows entry
Often live in camps/tents
Largest international groups from Palestine and Afghanistan
Largest internal groups from Sudan and Angola (decades long civil
wars)
▪ Difficult to discern between refugees and poor immigrants coming
for econ reasons (ex: Cubans got special status and free pass;
Haitians didn’t)
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World Refugee Survey estimates more than
13 million worldwide
Largest number in Middle East and North
Africa (Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Somalia, etc. )
Options? 1.) voluntary repatriation, 2.) longterm in refugee camp, 3.) resettlement in
other country
United States takes in largest number of
refugees worldwide
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International Migration: to new country
Internal Migration: stay in country (much
more common. Can be inter-regional or
intraregional
Step Migration: series of moves in same
direction
Transhumance: seasonal migration
ex: herders move livestock from summer to
winter pasture – pastoral nomadism….other
examples?
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Says migrants come mostly from stage 2 of
demographic transition model (periphery or
Semi-Periphery)
Move to MDCs for new job, education, or
tech opportunities
Most internal migration in Stage 3 and 4
countries is from city to suburbs
Most internal migration in Stage 2 countries
is rural to urban
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Most people migrate for economic reasons
Most move short distance (stay within own
country)
Most plan to return home (Cuban
grandmother with a packed suitcase)
Long distance migrants to other countries
head to major cities of econ activity
Historically most long distance migrants are
male, and single from age 25-39

From LDCs to MDCs
 Global Patterns…
▪ Asia, Latin America, Africa = net out-migration
▪ North America, Europe, Oceania = net in-migration
▪ U.S. = country with the most

The Easy Answer:
A citizen of the United
States

The Hard Question:
What characteristics,
values, beliefs, rights
and/or obligations are
essential to the identity of
citizens of the United
States?
10
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3 historic eras…..
Phase One: Initial Settlement – 1500s-late 1800s
 From NW Europe and Africa
 Scotland, Ireland, Germany, GB
 From Europe, Germany has provided largest # of
immigrants to U.S.
 Mexico recently passed Germany as greatest supplier in
history of immigrants to America

1776-1875 Open Frontier = Open Border
12

Phase Two: Turn of 20th C – 1920ish
 From SE Europe
 Italy, Poland, Russia, Romania, Greece
 Come through Ellis Island

Phase Three: 1950-Today
 From LA and Asia
 Asia highest from late 1970s-late 1980s (China,
Philippines, Vietnam, India)
 Last 20 yrs LA = greatest supplier, and Mexico
greatest supplier from LA

CA, NY, FL, TX: ½ of all immigrants go to these 4
states
 LA more likely in CA and TX, Cubans more likely in FL,
…i.e. distance
 Immigration = fireball issue in these states because big
drain on state budgets (AZ minutemen)

Chain Migration: people go to a specific location
because relatives or people from same area are
there…creates enclaves like Little Italy, Chinatown,
etc.

Historically, biggest obstacle was long, expensive
journey

Today, biggest obstacles
 Getting permission to enter
 $$ to travel
 Hostile attitudes once you are there
▪
▪
▪
▪
Often met with suspicion, fear, hostility
More different you are perceived to be, more hostility you face
Big anti-immigration protests in US, W Europe, Kuwait
How long does it take to fully assimilate???

Quotas: used in U.S.
 Historically used quotas to favor Europe
 Today has global quota of 620,000 with no more than 7%
from one country
 # of applicants far exceeds quotas so Congress sets
preferences for
▪ Unify families (typical wait for spouse is 5 yrs)
▪ Skilled workers/professionals (LDCs accuse U.S. of brain drain,
taking best and brightest)
▪ Quotas do not apply to refugees – special status

Family

Diversity

Employment
17

Temporary Guest Worker Passes:
 Used in W. Europe and Kuwait
 Take low status, low pay, low skill jobs (low pay by MDC

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standards, but good $$ for workers from LDC
Decreases LDC unemployment rate
Guest workers send $$ back to home country – good for
economy
Most European guest workers from N. Africa, Middle East,
Eastern Europe, and Asia
Problem – do not become citizens – U.S. unique to have
birth citizenship status

3 internal patterns in US
 1.) Late 19th/early 20th C = rural to urban
▪ Motivation = jobs
▪ Ex: Great Migration of African Americans from rural
areas of South to N. cities

2.) 1950-1970 = urban to suburban
 Motivation – lifestyle…yard, garage, better
schools, bigger houses, etc.
 Best of both worlds, close to amenities and jobs of
city but enjoy lifestyle of suburbs
 Suburbs more homogenous (often divided
racially, by socioeconomic status, etc.)

3.) 1975-today = from NE to South and Southwest
 White, middle class Americans leaving older NE Rust Belt
(OH, Michigan, Penn) for Sun Belt
 New South – FL, GA, NC, TN – has grown faster than other
regions recently. Offers more job opportunites, nice
climate, affordable lifestyle. Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa,
Nashville have all exploded in last 25 yrs
 South West – LA, San Diego, Houston, Phoenix