1. Key Issue 3: Why do Migrants Face Obstacles?
Chapter 3 Migration
Key Issue 3: Why do Migrants Face Obstacles?

2. Why do migrants face obstacles?
Immigration policies of host countries
Cultural problems faced while living in other countries

3. Obstacles Past: long, arduous expensive trip across land or sea
Cramped, unsanitary ships

4. Immigration Policies of Host Countries
Two policies to control arrival of foreigners seeking work
1) quota system: United States
Limits number of permanent migrants
2) temporary approval: Western Europe & Middle East
Allows workers to stay temporarily

5. US Quota Laws 1921, Congress passed Quota Act
1924, National Origins Act
Set limits on number of people who could immigrate from each country in 1 year period
Only 2% of a country’s population in the U.S. could immigrate each year (1910 data)
Stayed in effect (with modifications) until 1960s

6. U.S. Quota Laws Quota laws ensured that most immigrants were European
Immigration Act of 1965
Individual country quotas changed to hemisphere quotas
120,000 from Western Hemisphere
170,000 from Eastern Hemisphere
1978 changed to a global quota
620,000 and no more than 7% from one country

7. U.S. Quota Laws More applicants than what can be admitted Preferences:
Family-sponsored immigrants (3/4)
Reunify families (spouses, unmarried children, siblings)
Employment-related immigrants (1/4)
Skilled workers, talented professionals
Asians make up a large portion of this group
Lottery for others to diversify entry
Takes about 5 years

8. U.S. Quota Laws Quota does not apply to refugees
Quota dos not apply to spouses, children & parents of US citizens

9. Brain Drain Most immigrants are young, well-educated
Scientists, researchers, doctors & other professionals
Migrate to make a better living in destination
Brain Drain: large scale emigration of talented people
US & Europe at fault for favoring educated immigrants

10. Temporary Migration for Work
Prominent in Europe, Middle East, Asia
“guest workers” temporary job holders
Western Europe:
Protected by minimum wage laws, labor unions
Take “unwanted jobs”: bus drivers, garbage men
Earn more than in native country
Send money home (helps native country)
Decreases unemployment in native country

11. Guest Workers in Europe
Guest workers emigrate primarily from Eastern Europe and North Africa to work in the wealthier, more developed countries of Western Europe. Selected country may be a former colonial ruler, have a similar language or an agreement with the exporting country
Fig. 3-9: Guest workers emigrate mainly from Eastern Europe and North Africa to work in the wealthier countries of Western Europe.

12. Time-Contract Workers
Recruited for a fixed period to work
Millions of Asians in 19th century, mines & plantations
India to Burma, Malaysia, East & Southern Africa, etc
Japanese & Filipinos to Hawaii, Brazil
China to United States, railroad
More than 33 million Chinese live in other Asian countries

13. Emigration from China
Fig. 3-10: Various ethnic Chinese peoples have distinct patterns of migration to other Asian countries.

14. Distinguishing Between Economic Migrants and Refugees
Difficult to distinguish cause of emigration: economic vs refugee
Important because it determines acceptance into new country
Refuges receive special priority
Cuba, Haiti, Vietnam

15. Emigrants from Cuba
Us regards Cuban immigrants as refugees, 1959 Communist revolution under Castro
US government prevents trade with Cuba
Many settled in Southern Florida after revolution
“Mariel boatlift” political prisoners, criminals and mental patients of Cuba allowed to leave Cuba, 1980
Sought political asylum in US
125 mile voyage in small boats, often capsized
US now permits 20,000 per year

16. Emigrants from Haiti
Haitians wanted similar treatment as their neighboring Cuba
US claimed Haitians were only looking for economic advancement, not political asylum
When Haitian gov’t was taken over by military, 1991, US began to allow Haitians asylum as refugees
1994, US invaded Haiti to reinstate democratic gov’t
Haitians continue to migrate to US

17. Emigrants from Vietnam
Post Vietnam War, 1975
Several thousand pro-US South Vietnmese were evacuated by US for protection from North Vietnamese
Those who weren’t evacuated left by boat in South China Sea, hoping to be rescued by US Navy
“boat people” seek refuge in other countriees

18. Migration of Vietnamese Boat People
Fig. 3-11: Many Vietnamese fled by sea as refugees after the war with the U.S. ended in Later boat people were often considered economic migrants.

19. Cultural Problems Faced While Living in Other Countries
US Attitudes Towards Immigrants
19th century
Immigrants helped settle the frontier, extend US control across continent, created productive farms
20th century
Opposition to new Northern & Eastern European immigrants: German & Irish
Hostility towards Italians, Russians, Poles

20. US Attitudes toward Immigration
1911 government study of popular attitudes
Immigrants from Southern & Eastern Europe are racially inferior
Violent crimes, Resist assimilations , Steal jobs
Current attitudes:
Deny undocumented citizens access to schools, day-care centers, health clinics

21. Attitudes Toward Guest Workers
Europe: typically young males
Guest workers suffer poor social conditions, low paying jobs. Send money home to native country
Many guest workers remain indefinitely
Many Europeans dislike them
Oppose gov’t programs to help them
Political parties w strict immigration rules gaining more support

22. Anti-Immigration Protest in Spain
Spanish youths attacked Moroccan immigrants in El Ejido, Spain after an alleged murder.

23. Attitudes toward Guest Workers
Middle East, petroleum-exporting countries
Fear guest workers will spark political unrest
Fear abandonment of Islamic customs
Host countries force migrants to return home if they wish to marry

24. Middle East & Western Europe
Slow economy
Reducing amount of guest workers
Pay guest workers to return home
High unemployment can cause native country to deny nationals return

25. Fiji British brought Indians to Fiji for labor, 1879-1920
More Indians than native Fijian
Peacefully coexisted in democratic country for decades
Indians won power in 1987, leading to riots
New constitution ensures Fijians will hold majority in parliament

26. Arguments of Anti-Immigrants
Western Europe & United States
“If immigrants were thrown out, unemployment rate would drop”
“Cut off immigrants from public programs, then taxes would drop”
Little scientific basis for these arguments