Immigration Issues and Theories of Immigration

I. Reasons for immigration II. Patterns of immigration III. The history of restrictionist sentiment

Reasons for Immigration Why do people move to a new country and leave their home? For what reasons might you leave the United States to move to another country? – What factors might push you away? – What factors might draw you in somewhere else?

Reasons for Immigration A globalized world and economy Push Factors:  economic difficulties  religious or ethnic persecution  political unrest Pull Factors:  perceptions of a better life  desire to join a community of fellow nationals – Chain Migration

Patterns of Immigration 3 patterns – 1. Has fluctuated dramatically overtime due to gov’t policy – 2. Settlement has not been uniform by region – 3. The source of immigrants has changed over time – U.S. Received the largest # of legal immigrants in first decade of 1900’s and First decade of 2000’s – Reception has not always been friendly

Today’s Foreign Born Population 12-13% of the nation’s people are foreign born – Has fluctuated between 5% and 15% – Large but not unusual Currently, 2/3 of those immigrants live in 6 states – CA, NY, TX, FL, NJ, IL Concentrated in major cities – 1/3 residents in Miami, LA, San Fran, and NY are foreign born – Where do most immigrants currently come from?

Early Immigration 1400’s and 1500’s Spanish and English – English protestants became dominant numerically, socially, and politically – Immigration controversy began Legislation primarily focused on who could naturalize, rather than who could enter – Until 1870’s, only “free white persons” could naturalize, or become citizens – Very little federal legislation regarding who could enter until 1870’s, but not all peoples were welcomed Many white ethnics were first to be ill treated among immigrants Xenophobia: The fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners

Xenophobia and Nativism Xenophobia led to nativism: beliefs and policies favoring native born citizens over immigrants – Institutional discrimination accompanies prejudice towards immigrants – The most dramatic form of nativism in 1800’s directed towards the Chinese

The Anti-Chinese Movement While xenophobia had existed towards immigrants for centuries, the Chinese became the first immigrant group to be singled out for restriction – Between , 200,000 Chinese immigrants came to America – Initially seen as a valuable resource to fill jobs, and in 1860’s became 90% of Central Pacific’s labor force in building Trans-Continental Railroad – Once railroads were completed anti Chinese sentiment grew among population, motivated primarily by racism. “Yellow peril” Sinophobia

In 1882, Congress enacted the Chinese Exclusion Act – Outlawed Chinese immigration and naturalization – 1892, congress extended Act, and in 1902 it was extended again Soon After, many other groups were excluded from immigration and naturalization as restrictionist sentiment increased

Interestingly, it was during this same time period that the Statue of Liberty was dedicated …"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Restrictionist Sentiment Increases People were worried that the “new Immigrants” would overwhelm the culture established by the “old immigrants” The National Origin System-1921 – Quota system weighted in favor of immigration from Northern Europe and to stop and block immigration from southern Europe and all of Asia 70% of quota went to just three countries: Great Britain, Ireland, and Germany

The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act – The National Origin System was abandoned – Initiated restrictions on immigration from Latin America – Over the last 190 years, immigration patterns have changed greatly Charts on page 128 of text