INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND UNITED STATES FOREIGN

POLICY

International Migration

There are several definitions of international migration that can be used, one of which

is the definition put forward by Zlotnik (1992) that international migration is a form of

population mobility that transcends national borders and internationalization. International

migration as an activity of population movement that includes aspects of changes in

residence, migration destinations, and desires to settle or stay not in the destination area.3 In

addition, most countries have a number of categories in their migration policies and statistics

culture.

In fact, there is no uniform definition of international migration, these definitions are

the result of state policies, introduced in response to political and economic objectives and

public behavior of a particular country.4 In addition, international migration is an integral

part of globalization, which is characterized by the widening, deepening and accelerating

interconnectedness of all aspects of contemporary world social life. International migration

is facilitated by an increase in various flows across national borders, including modern

information and communication technologies.

On the one hand, many countries are opening up to capital and commodity flows as

part of globalization. On the other hand, many countries view migration, associated with

cultural differences, as a threat to national sovereignty and identity. Castles (2000) argues

that international migration occurs in a world divided into a number of countries, where

staying in the country of birth is the norm and moving to another country is an "aberration".

As such, migration is often perceived as a problem, something to be controlled and even

restricted, as it can lead to unforeseen changes. Problems occur not only because of

statistical differences in the types of migration, but also because of differences related to the

various social contexts that occur as a result of migration.

One of the country's efforts to

To improve control over migration is to divide international migration into the following

categories:

 Temporary migrant workers (also known as migrant workers or overseas contract

workers): women or men who migrate for a period of time to work and remit their

earnings to their home country.

 Business people or high-skilled migrants: qualified migrants, professionals,

technicians or the like, who move within the labor market of transnational

corporations (TNCs) and international organizations, or who seek employment

through the international labor market for scarce skills. Many countries are open to

this category of migrants and even have special programs related to it.

 Irregular migration (or undocumented or illegal migrants): people who enter a

country, usually to find work, without documents and permits.

 Forced migration: in a broad sense includes not only refugees and asylum seekers

but also people who are forced to move due to external factors, such as natural

disasters or development projects (such as the construction of new factories, roads

or dams).

 Returning migrant: a person who returns to their home country after living for a

period of time in another country.

 Refugee: persons who are outside their country of origin and are unable or unwilling

to return because of fear of violence based on race, religion, nationality,

membership of a particular social or political group.

 Asylum seeker: a person who has crossed the border for protection, but has not yet

met the requirements under the Convention.

United States Position in the Context of International Migration

In the context of international migration, United States has a complex position. First,

based on the pathway, United States serves as the country of origin, transit and destination of

the entire international migration process. The process of human movement, which is

accompanied by the movement of information, commodities, and capital, requires regulation

and supervision from powerful institutions.

Secondly, United States position in the context of international migration cannot

simply be explained through income differences between the countries involved. In this case,

there are many factors that must be considered, such as the availability of jobs, the

availability of capital for entrepreneurial activities and the need for a job manage various

risks in the long run.

Thirdly, the international migration process for many United Statess is decided not

only based on individual factors but rather based on a family unit's strategy to maximize

income and survival. As a result, the migration process and its impacts must be viewed using

a "whole-of-life" approach household economy".

Fourth, the international migration process in United States is greatly facilitated by a

"migration cycle" that involves many actors, both internally and externally. In this case, the

"migration industry", which consists of many organizations and individuals, plays a role in

the migration process, either as a helper or extortionist. On the one hand, social networks

that are highly trusted by potential migrants can make the migration process safer and more

organized. But on the other hand, these networks can lead to a variety of complex problems,

including illegal migration and human trafficking.

Fifth, women plays an important role in international migration, especially labor migration,

which now accounts for 70 percent of the total number of labor migrants from United States.

United States.7 Most of these women work in domestic service which is often not covered

and unreachable under the Labor Law and Industrial Relations Law in the destination

country, as a result of which their position becomes vulnerable to exploitation.

International Migration and Foreign Policy: Opportunities

To analyze the relationship between international migration and foreign policy, there

are two frameworks from Myron Weiner that we can use, namely the security/stability

framework (SSF) and the international political economy framework.

(IPEF).8 Based on SSF, foreign policy related to the issue of international migration is more

influenced by thinking that focuses more on the interests of internal stability and

international security. In this case, SSF considers the political changes that will occur due to

the movement of people in the process of international migration which can be the cause and

effect of international conflict.

Whereas the focus of the IPEF framework is more on issues of global injustice,

economic relations between sending and receiving countries, including the movement of

capital, technology, and the role played by transnational institutions, as well as structural

changes that occur in the labor market related to the international separation of labor.

The two frameworks mentioned above are used as the basis for making United States

foreign policy by considering that migrating is not just done on an individual level, but rather

done within the broader social, political, and economic context in which one acts.

The migration process is interconnected with various other global processes that emphasize

the importance of the state's role in the policy-making process, both with regard to border

issues and the involvement of global actors and forces.

Both sending and receiving countries can take the opportunity to: (i) make international

migration an important issue in bilateral, multilateral and international relations; (ii) take an

important role in bilateral, multilateral and international agreements; and (iii) make

international migration an instrument in interactions between countries. Thus, international

migration is no longer a "low politics" issue and is not the main issue, or is still eclipsed by

other issues that are seen as more priority in international relations international competition

take the opportunity to: (i) make international migration an important issue in bilateral,

multilateral and international relations; (ii) take an important role in bilateral, multilateral

and international agreements; and (iii) make international migration an instrument in

interactions between countries. Thus, international migration is no longer a "low politics"

issue and is not the main issue, or is still eclipsed by other issues that are seen as more

priority in international relations international competition.9

International Migration and Foreign Policy: Challenges

As one of the main factors in the process of globalization, migration can be seen as a

challenge to the process of making and implementing United States foreign policy,

especially with regard to the potential of migration as a driving force that can erode the

strength and sovereignty of the state.

First, the tendency that more and more people are migrating to different The country shows

the low level of ability of the United States government to create economic development for

its people. This can lead to a crisis of confidence from the public towards the government as

United States foreign policy maker.

Second, as a migrant sending country, especially for migrant workers, there are times

when United States is seen as unable to provide effective protection while they are abroad.

As a result, the government has to deal with various protests from various groups, both

domestically and abroad.

Third, there is considerable potential that many prospective workers from United

States are unaware of how to migrate safely, making them vulnerable to fraud, extortion and

document forgery. As a result of the recruitment and employment process carried out by

companies that do not follow procedures and coupled with lack of government supervision,

United States migrant workers become very vulnerable to exploitative practices. It is in this

context that human trafficking can occur. Victims may depart from United States through

official channels or may be smuggled in by transnational crime networks, where they are

treated like slaves: unpaid, denied freedom of movement and often subjected to torture.

Recommendation

First, there is a need for broad thinking about international migration and foreign

policy, which is not limited to diplomatic or traditional measures of interaction between

countries, but also involves the rules that apply in the international political economy

system.

Secondly, an international strategy is needed to ensure that international migration

processes are linked and aligned with national, regional and international political, economic

and social objectives. Therefore, the possibility of human rights violations, exploitation and

conflict (political, social and cultural) can be avoided by all actors involved in the migration

process.

Third, there is a need for an integrated analytical process at multiple levels, involving

migration studies linked to policy-making processes at domestic, foreign and international