USA - unequal flows

• overview of USA 


  population of 340 million (2023)

  AC with GDP of $24 trillion in 2021

  2020 - 0.2% of population below $2.15 a day
• usa - patterns of immigration

  2021 = 340,000 refugees

  foreign born population doubling from 20 million in 1990 to over 45 million in 2015

  2022 net migration rate = 3 per 1000 vs 0.83 in 2017
• main countries of origin - usa immigration

  mexico - 107,000

  india - 93,000

  china

  phillipines

  dominican republic
• USA key pull factors

  economic and work opportunities

  family reunification

  better education system

  low levels of poverty

  positive immigration policy and possibility of obtaining green card

  wage differentials and opportunity to send remittances
• usa emigration patterns


  american emigration to europe = 3.6million in 2005 and 5million in 2019

  americans emigrating = 30 million in 2005 and 40 million in 2019
• main destination countries - usa emigration

  mexico

  canada

  uk

  puerto rico

  germany

  australia
• causes of emigration from USA

  return of migrants

  number of highly skilled workers have migration to countries with political, economic and historical ties
• social interdependence between usa and mexico

  each of 2 countries have largest diasporas living in eachother = growing social and cultural connectivity
• economic interdependence between usa and mexico

  since formation of NAFTA, trade between usa and mexico grown significantly

  reciprocal merchandise accounts for US $1.4 billion a day

  mexican industry benefits - development of aerospace and IT sectors boosted from US FDI

  low skilled mexicans contribute to US economy by working in agriculture, construction and low paid services

  wages higher in US providing opportunities for remittances = $25 billion in 2015
• political interdependence between usa and mexico

  political power relations remain imbalanced but increasingly there has been co-ordination and co-operation over issues in common

  includes border security, drug trade, human trafficking and environmental issues such as water scarcity
• environmental interdependence between usa and mexico

  joint management of colorado river basin and sonoran desert
• USA migration policy


  governed by Immigration and Nationality Act

  allows US to grant 675k permanent VISAs

  INA sets no limit on annual admissions of US citizens' family members

  principles making up migration policy

  • reunification of families
  • admitting immigrations with skills valuable to economy
  • protecting refugees
  • promoting diversity
  • humanitarian relief
• usa - opportunities 


  immigrant populations take many low paid jobs which native born americans find unattractive - 2018 main employment of mexicans was in services

  US immigration policy also aims to attract highly skilled and well qualified professionals

  most immigrants to USA are young workers = economic and social benefit via contributing to tax base and increasing birth rate

  immigrants are consumers helping job creation and business start ups, generating wealth
• usa - challenges of migration


  estimated 11 million unauthorised immigrants live in USA

  uneven progress in integration of migrant groups into society, depending on size and diversity of groups and factors such as language, socio-economic attainment, political participation etc. size of unauthorised population also barrier to social cohesion and full economic/political integration

  where immigrant populations are concentrated and numerous, supply of resources and services have become an issue - e.g., addition in water demand in southern california