Sociological Meanings of Basic Concepts

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Chapter 4

Immigration

Immigration: A Global Phenomenon

Can be a result of Push and Pull factors
Chain Migration
An immigrant who sponsors other immigrants who upon their arrival may sponsor still more
Potent factor contributing to immigration globally

Patterns of Immigration to the United States

Three unmistakable patterns
Immigrantion has fluctuated dramatically over time due to government policy changes
Settlement has not been uniform across the country; centered in certain regions and cities
The source of immigrants has changed over time

Today’s Foreign-Born Population

About 12-13% are foreign born
Six states account for two-thirds of total foreign born population
Approximately 38.5 million foreign born people are from Latin America
Europeans account for less than 1 in 7 of the foreign born today

Early Immigration

35% of all immigrants to US eventually emigrated back to their home country
Not all new arrivals were welcome
Xenophobia
Nativism
Beliefs and policies favoring native-born citizens over immigrants

The Anti-Chinese Movement

Lured by discovery of gold and opening of job opportunities in the West
Railroad provided the greatest demand
Sinophobes
People with a fear of anything associated with China
Threat they posed as laborers

The Anti-Chinese Movement

Conflict Theory
Chinese were welcomed only when their labor was necessary
Restrictions were not applied evenly
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
Denied naturalization rights to Chinese in US
Decline in legal immigration

Restrictionist Sentiment Increases

The extension of restrictions from the anti-Asian movement to European nationalities
1908 – The Gentleman’s Agreement was signed
Prodded by anti-Japanese feelings
Japan halted further immigration to US & US agreed end discrimination of Japanese in US

Restrictionist Sentiment Increases

Two types of immigrants: old and new
New immigrants were seen as a threat to democracy and the American way of life
1917 Congressional Bill on immigration
Included controversial literacy test
Prohibited immigration from South Sea Islands & other parts of Asia not excluded

The National Origin System

Established quotas based on percent of each ethnic group from the 1910 census
Drawn to block growing immigration from Southern Europe, such as Greece and Italy
The National Origin System
Quotas went unfilled and immigration dropped
Backlog in other countries

Immigration and Naturalization
Act of 1965

Primary goals were to reunite families and protect American labor market
Also initiated restrictions on immigration from Latin America
Naturalization
The conferring of citizenship on a person after birth

Immigration and Naturalization
Act of 1965

Rules for naturalization
18 years of age; Continuous resident for 5 years (3 years for spouses of citizens)
Good moral character (absence of criminal offenses)
Ability to read and write ordinary English
Pass a test in U.S. government and history

Immigration and Naturalization
Act of 1965

Legally admitted for the following reasons:
Citizen Family unification
Spouses of legal residents
Employment based
Refugees/political asylum seekers
Diversity
Other

Contemporary Social Concerns

Brain Drain
Skilled workers, professionals, & technicians desperately needed by their home countries
H-1B Visas
Permanent work permits to highly skilled immigrants resulting in an:
Economic & social cost to the developing nations

Contemporary Social Concerns

Conflict Theory
Views brain drain as another symptom of the unequal distribution of world resources
US does not need to take the steps necessary
To encourage native members of subordinate groups to enter desirable fields of employment

Contemporary Social Concerns

Population Growth
US is continues to accept large numbers of permanent immigrants
Nation’s birth rate has decreased so consequently, contribution of immigration is more significant
Immigration accounts for about 50% of nation’s growth

Contemporary Social Concerns

To some, US is overpopulated
Sierra Club took position restricting immigration
Recognizing more people puts greater strain on nation’s natural resources
Patterns of uneven settlement in US expected to increase
Mixed-Status Families

Language Barriers

Bilingualism:
Use of 2+ languages in work or education and the treatment of each language as legitimate
Bilingual education:
Program designed to allow students to learn academic concepts in their native language
While they learn a second language

Illegal Immigration

Control of illegal or undocumented immigrants bitterly debated
Exact number of undocumented or unauthorized workers subject to estimates
Illegal and legal immigrants tied by public to almost every social problem in a nation
Unemployment, “drug runners” & “terrorists”

Illegal Immigration

Cost of policing borders and locating illegal immigrants is sizable
Immigration and Reform Act of 1986 (IRCA)
Historic change in immigration policy
Amnesty granted to 1.7 million illegal immigrants; document long term residency

Illegal Immigration

Conflict Theory
Immigrants, primarily poor and Hispanic or Asian
Are being lodged at the bottom of the nation’s social and economic hierarchies

Illegal Immigration

Functionalist Theory
Employers, by paying low wages, are able to produce goods and services
That are profitable for industry and affordable to consumers
Despite poor working conditions often experienced by illegal immigrants:

Illegal Immigration

They continue to come because it is in their best economic interest
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
Emphasized more effort to keep immigrants from entering the country illegally
No access to social security and welfare

Path to Citizenship

Naturalization:
Citizenship is conferred on a person after birth
This is a process outlined by Congress and extends to foreigners the same benefits:
Given to native-born United States citizens

Economic Impact of Immigration

Much public and scholarly debate
Most significant factor is whether a study examines national impact of immigration
Or only its effect on a local area
Many hold stereotypical belief that immigrants end up on welfare
And cause increase in taxes

Economic Impact of Immigration

Remittances (Migradollars)
Money that immigrants return to their country
Widely recognized as critical to the survival to millions of households worldwide
States have sought legal redress because federal government has not seriously
Considered granting aid to heavily burdened states

Economic Impact of Immigration

Paradoxical situation
Strong economy and concerns about immigration
Suggests other concerns
Ethnic & racial tension more important in explaining current attitudes toward immigration

Women and Immigration

Men dominate much of labor migration worldwide
Diversified labor force in US and policies that facilitate relatives coming
US immigration has been fairly balanced
Second-class status of women in society is reflected in immigration

Women and Immigration

1907-1922
Women who married immigrants who were not citizens lost their citizenship –not applied to men
Immigrant women face additional challenges
Responsibility of navigating the new society when it comes to services for their family

Women and Immigration

Males are more consumed with work leaving adult women to navigate bureaucracies
City services, schools, medical facilities, stores, and markets
Less likely to seek outside help for medical care or issues of domestic violence
More likely to be the liaison for the household

The Global Economy and Immigration

Globalization
The worldwide integration of government policies, cultures, social movements
And financial markets through trade, movement of people, and exchange of ideas

The Global Economy and Immigration

Transnationals
Immigrants who sustain multiple social relationships
Linking their societies of origin and settlement

The Environment and Immigration

The public expressed growing concern on a variety of environmental issues
From water quality to global warming
Environmental factors are behind a significant amount of world migration
Up to 200 million people may move due to environmental factors from 2005 & 2050

Refugees

People living outside their country for fear of political or religious persecution
Enough exist to populate an entire nation
US makes the largest contribution of any nation to worldwide assistance programs
Resettles 70,000 refugees annually

Refugees

US government is officially committed to accepting refugees from other nations
1968 United Nations treaty on refugees
Countries obliged to refrain from forcibly returning people to territories
Where their lives or liberty might be endangered

Refugees

Asylees
Foreigners who have already entered the US and now seek protection because of
Persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution
Based on race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion