Attitudes and policies regarding migration are influenced by many things including international relations, public perception of migrants, how migrants may impact the economy (positively or negatively). And how many resources are available in the reviving country.

Forced Migration- Involuntary removal of Native Americans, this led to the loss of many lives and the reduction of land for Native Americans.

Political Effects of Migration

• Current- Migrant seeking political safety in another country (asylum seekers).

Refugees vs Internally Displaced Persons

• A refugee is forced to migrate because of a negative situation like war, natural disaster, violence or persecution. They flee to a different country.

• An internally displaced person (IDP) is forced to migrate for similar reasons, but they do not cross international borders.

Political Effects

• Current: Border disputes

• Migration, largely unauthorized migration, can cause border disputes.

Economic Effects of Migration

• Migrants often fill important jobs that the native population cannot or choose not to do.

• If they are unable to migrate permanently they may migrate temporarily or seasonally.

• These migrants often send home a portion of their wages (or remittances) to support family and friends.

• In some cases, migrants within higher levels of training or education, like doctors, scientists, and computer programmers, may migrate internationally in order to make more money in a different country. This phenomenon is referred to as “brain drain.”

Cultural Effects of Migration

• Some countries place quotas, or limits, on the number of immigrants admitted from certain countries.

• The US created a diversity lottery for people coming from countries that historically sent few people to the US

• These policies have an impact on the cultural diversity of the US.

• Cultural issues- Migrants may be blamed for social ills and may face persecution

• Anti-immigrant sentiment- Migrants will change cultural traditions

2.12 IMPORTANT VOCABULARY

Guest-worker policies- These regulate the number of workers who can temporarily enter each country to work in specific industries for a defined amount of time. Once the work visa has expired, workers are expected to either renew or return to their sending country.

Family Reunification- Policies that allow migrants to sponsor family members who migrate to the country. Other policies allow refugees to migrate quickly in emergencies and allow foreign college students an easy pathway to becoming permanent residents after they graduate.

Xenophobia- A strong dislike of people of another culture

Remittance- Immigrants that send money to their family and friends in the country they left

Brain Drain- When migration out of a country is made up of many highly skilled people

Ethnic Enclaves- Neighborhoods filled primarily with people of the same ethnic group, such as “Little Italy” or “Chinatown,” add to the cultural richness of the countries in which they develop

The Great Migration- Entry of the US into World War 1 in 1917, millions of Americans migrated from the south to cities in the rest of the country

Sun Belt Migration- The movement of people from the Northeast and Midwest to the South and Southwest. People from colder, harsher climates moved to warmer climates