Chapter 3 Key Issue 4 Why do Migrants Face Challenges?

Big Question What are unauthorized immigrants? How common are they in the United States, where do they come from, and what affect do they have on the country? What are American’s feelings about immigration and the status of unauthorized migrants?

Key Terms unauthorized immigrants Quota Act of 1921 National Origins Act of 1924 Brain Drain Chain Migration Sanctuary City

Government Immigration Policies Today, the main intervening obstacles for immigrants are not physical but are political To legally enter a country, a migrant must have a passport and a visa Most countries have their own selective immigration policies and the UN classifies them into four categories: Maintain current level of immigration (116) Increase level of immigration (21) Reduce the level of immigrants (32) No policy (25)

Government Immigration Policies The U.S. is allowing historically high numbers of immigrants into the country, but more want to come Those who can’t get in legally, come in as unauthorized immigrants (other terms used are undocumented immigrant or illegal aliens)

Government Immigration Policies In 2014 there were 11.3 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States, down from 12.2 in 2007…the 2008 recession lowered the number Most UIs emigrate from Mexico and California and Texas take in the largest number of them…Others come from Latin America, Asia, Africa Over 1 million UIs are children and 4.5 million are children born to immigrants but those children are U.S. citizens

Government Immigration Policies The duration of residency in the U.S. is increasing, 84% of UIs have lived in the U.S. for more than 5 years UIs make up 5% (8 million) of the U.S. workforce, mostly in the service industry and construction

U.S. Quota Laws The U.S. had unrestricted immigration until 1921 when the Quota Act of 1921 was passed. 3 years later the National Origins Act of 1924 was passed These laws put a cap on the number of people from individual countries that could immigrate to the U.S. each year (2% of the number already living in the U.S.). Also made it so mostly Europeans would migrate

U.S. Quota Laws 1965 – quotas from individual countries replaced with hemisphere quotas (170,000 from Western Hemisphere and 120,000 from Eastern) 1978 – Global quota of 290,000 set (20,000 from individual country) 1990 – Global quota raised to 700,000

U.S. Quota Laws The number that apply to come to U.S. far exceeds quotas so congress sets preferences based on: family reunification, skilled workers, and diversity Quotas do not apply to refugees or spouses, children, and parents of current U.S. citizens

U.S. Quota Laws The U.S. allows many skilled workers (doctors, engineers, scientists, etc.) to immigrate in. Other countries claim this has created a brain drain in their countries as their most skilled people leave to go to the U.S. This preference on skilled workers has also created another phenomena in the U.S. known as chain migration. This is where one highly skilled person immigrates into the U.S. and then brings family members in under the family reunification part of the quota laws

U.S.-Mexico Border Issue The border between the two countries is 1,951 miles long and has several legal border crossings The border is monitored and marked by the U.S.-Mexican International Boundary and Water Commission Even though the U.S. has created a border wall that covers about ¼ of the border and border agents monitor both sides, remote areas along the border see thousands of illegal migrants enter the U.S. every year

U.S.-Mexico Border Issue Americans are divided over whether migration hurts or helps the country. They are concerned with several issues: Border Patrols – Americans want more border patrols but don’t want money spent on more fences or walls Workplace – Most Americans believe that immigrants take jobs that others don’t want and agree with some work-related programs. Most Americans support a path to U.S. citizenship for unauthorized workers

U.S.-Mexico Border Issue Civil Rights – Americans favor allowing law enforcement to stop and verify the legal status of people suspected of being unauthorized but they fear these searches may violate civil rights of U.S. citizens Local Initiatives – Most American believe in strong enforcement of immigration laws but only by federal officials, not local

U.S.-Mexico Border Issue The two states with strongest initiatives on immigration are Arizona and Alabama where they require foreigners to carry documents at all times that prove they are legal These documents have to be produced every time local law enforcement requests them Alabama also banned unauthorized migrants from attending public schools Some states and localities such as Texas have not enacted harsh anti-immigration laws and support more rights for immigrants These protections are known as Sanctuary City

Big Question & Key Terms What are unauthorized immigrants? How common are they in the United States, where do they come from, and what affect do they have on the country? What are American’s feelings about immigration and the status of unauthorized migrants? unauthorized immigrants Quota Act of 1921 National Origins Act of 1924 Brain Drain Chain Migration Sanctuary City