USA case study

• Patterns of emigration and immigration

  -the main contributions to the immigrant population in 2018 were mexico, India, china, phillipines and Puerto Rico
• reasons the USA is attractive for immigrants

  -positive immigration policy and possibility of obtaining a green card

  -employment opportunities for both low and high skilled workers

  -educational opportunities and access to other services such as health

  -importance of family reunification within the migration policy
• us migration policies is based on the following principles

  -reunification of families

  -admission with skills valuable to the us economy

  -protecting refugees

  -promoting diversity

  -humanitarian relief
• links with Mexico (migrant corridor)

  -growing social connectivity

  -low skilled Mexicans, many illegal contribute to the us economy by working in agriculture, construction and low paid services

  -bilateral trade has grown significantly

  -political power remains imbalanced but there has been co-ordination and co-operation over issues such as border security and water scarcity
• opportunities migration has created

  -immigrant populations take many of the low paid jobs which native born Americans find unattractive

  -most immigrants to the USA are the young working age groups, this is an economic and social benefit

  -immigrants are consumers themselves which helps job creation and business startups and generates wealth
• challenges migration has creates

  -there has been uneven progress in the integration of immigrant groups into us society, the size of the unauthorised population is also a barrier to social cohesion and full economic and political intergration

  -supply of resources and services has become an issue, for example adding to demand for water supply in Southern California