12 New Destinations and Conclusions

New Destinations for Immigrants, Conclusions, and Course wrap-up : 

New Destinations for Immigrants, Conclusions, and Course wrap-up

New Destinations for Immigrants : 

Migration waves can change over time New destinations emerging Partially in response to more heavily guarded borders for undocumented Changing economy, job availability Refugee placement New Destinations for Immigrants

Utah is also a “New Immigrant Destination” : 

Utah is also a “New Immigrant Destination” 1990s & forward – immigrants redefine the American map Dispersion of immigrants across landscape, incl. rural areas Immigrants are choosing “new destination” communities that had been ethnically homogeneous since early 20th c. In traditional receiving states of migration – CA, FL, IL, NJ, NY, TX – foreign born populations increase by 56% on avg. in 1990s New immigrant destinations – NC, GA, NV, UT (a few others) – saw foreign-born population increase by over 100% in the 1990s States with fastest growing immigrant populations in the 1990s: NC (274%) GA (233%) NV (202%) AR (196%) UT (171%)

Utah: A “Pre-emerging Immigrant Gateway : 

Utah: A “Pre-emerging Immigrant Gateway

States Showing At Least A Doubling of Latino Births, 1993-2003 : 

States Showing At Least A Doubling of Latino Births, 1993-2003 Source: T.J. Matthews et al., "Births of Hispanic Origin, 1989-95," Monthly Vital Statistics Report 46, no. 6 (1998); and Joyce A. Martin et al., "Births: Final Data for 2003," National Vital Statistics Reports 54, no. 2 (2005).

Slide 6: 

Immigrants turn Utah into mini-melting pot By Haya El Nasser, USA TODAY SALT LAKE CITY — In the shadow of the Mormon faith's majestic headquarters, the fountain at the center of the Gateway Plaza outdoor mall is a popular backdrop for weddings. On a scorching day, Hispanic and Anglo children run side by side through the pulsating sprays of water. Immigration is changing the complexion of communities across the USA. As it sweeps through Utah, traditionally one of the least diverse and most conservative states in the nation, its impact is particularly dramatic. About 98% white until 1970, Utah is becoming a mini-melting pot. While conservative Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are pushing to tighten borders and make illegal immigrants felons, factors unique to Utah are attracting Hispanics to this reddest of red states. Among them: the Mormon church's philosophy of outreach and its embrace of large families. These influences have helped give the state a reputation of being warm and welcoming to immigrants. Utah allows the undocumented to drive legally with a "driving privilege card." They can attend public colleges and universities and pay in-state tuition. Minorities — mostly Hispanics — make up 16.5% of the population, up from 8.8% in 1990. They could reach 20% by 2010. Hispanics are driving the growth among minorities here. The state's black and Asian populations also are growing but more slowly. Updated 9/15/2006 12:07 AM ET

Explanations for the Emergence of New Immigrant Destinations : 

Explanations for the Emergence of New Immigrant Destinations New Immigrant Destinations contradict established theory on immigrant residence choices (predicated on ethnic support networks & employment enclaves) Explanations for the rise of NIDs: Active recruitment of migrants into restructured industries in new communities (e.g., southward & westward push of meat processing to nonunion, low-wage states) “Latinization” of agricultural labor, esp. in labor intensive crops (e.g., WA Apples & grapes, FL & GA tomatoes & citrus) Regional employment booms, esp. in construction & tourism

Article: New Geography of Mexican Immigration : 

Immigration during classical era (1910-1960) Primarily to “gateway states” in beginning Arizona, CA, Illinois, New Mexico, Texas Immigration during Bracero era (late 1940-1960) Boom in California, decline in Texas( but still high) Current Day Migration (“Immigration During Undocumented Era”) Changes in border move migration to non-gateway states 1990-2000 most distinct changes Article: New Geography of Mexican Immigration

Article: New Geography of Mexican Immigration : 

Migrant population in non-gateway states growing About 1/3 Mexican migrants settling in non-gateway states Major new destinations include: Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, No. Carolina, Oregon Article: New Geography of Mexican Immigration

Article: New Geography of Mexican Immigration : 

Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) 1986 Made it illegal to knowingly hire/recruit undocumented immigrants. Amnesty given to some illegal seasonal agricultural immigrants. Amnesty given to illegal immigrants who entered the United States before January 1, 1982 and had resided here continuously. Required employers to attest to their employees' immigration status. Results of this: flooded local labor markets with newly legalized immigrants Gave newly legal migrants freedom to move Illegal for employers to hire undocumented workers civil and criminal penalties Labor shift to hire through subcontractors Article: New Geography of Mexican Immigration

Immigration and Public Policy : 

High immigration periods often accompanied by nativist resistance Fear of “Italianizing” or “Mexicanizing” America Public view often that migrants come in search of better life, and allowed to settle because of lax government controls and tolerant attitude of nativists. If these change, many think migration will disappear. In reality, it won’t go away Immigration and Public Policy

Immigration and Public Policy : 

2 basic paths of migration policies Exclude newcomers Public policy to make migration more difficult Anti-migration legislation attached to Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (POWRA) Denied public assistance Legislation for Southern wall, or more border control Americanize them as quickly as possible Forced assimilation through language acquisition A 3rd possible way to focus migration legislation and policy Selective acculturation More viable for successful integration Religion not the only way this can happen Language, ethnic enclaves Immigration and Public Policy

Immigration and Public Policy : 

Political Economy of Migration American labor market bifurcated and needs people at the bottom to work low-wage jobs Labor immigration could provide answer to these needs Historically recruiters went to Mexico/ other places to recruit for this labor Immigration and Public Policy

Immigration and Public Policy : 

Key social effect of capitalist globalization is rise of massive relative deprivation among citizens in nations exposed to modern goods and consumption, but unable to afford them Social networks and Migration The more people migrate, the more if becomes the norm in the sending country Networks between migrants and kin Networks also between migrants, employers, and kin Immigration and Public Policy

Immigration and Public Policy :DISCONNECT : 

Immigration and Public Policy :DISCONNECT Public Opinion Reality Ideologies: 1. intransigent Nativism (keep immigrants out) 2. Forced assimilation (monolingual Americans ASAP) Realities: 1. Hourglass labor market 2. Structural Need for foreign labor at top and bottom of labor market 3. Networks between sending/ receiving 4. Networks between immigrants and employers

Immigration and Public Policy : 

Current policy implications: Increasing difficulty and cost of border control Immigrants stay longer, more permanent, less circulatory migration Downward assimilation of sizable group of offspring of migrant population Immigration and Public Policy

Gender, Women, and Migration : 

Global cities often built on the backs of vulnerable and poor Importance of care work to make society functional Women who perform such work often discounted as valueless economic actors Often invisible, disempowered, trafficked But – does provide some limited opportunity for access to wages and salaries Gender, Women, and Migration

Slave labor, Trafficking and Migration : 

Current capitalist market leaves room for improvement World- wide minimum wage set by living conditions Establishment of global labor and environmental standards USA needs access to more information about the rest of the world Often White, middle class, male informants in news Slave labor, Trafficking and Migration

Slave labor, Trafficking and Migration : 

“You can either have a great disparity between rich and poor or you can have a democracy, but you can’t have both” - Nobodies `~$50 / yr / family for fair wages to poor farm workers Garment production in Mexico would only require a retail hike of 2% to 6% to have fair wages Slave labor, Trafficking and Migration

Immigration and Public Policy : 

Policy Ideas for a Better Future Balance supply / demand More legal avenues for migration Temporary labor permit program Can move to permanent under certain conditions Eliminate worst abuse by employers, create incentives for migrants to return and invest in home countries Allow some illegal's a path to legalization Jobs, no criminal records Selective Acculturation Children retain language, bilingual schools and programs Mexican government support for families / children remaining in Mexico Avoid downward assimilation, motivate keeping family in home country Immigration and Public Policy

Immigration and Public Policy : 

Policies for Second Generation Language acquisition and keep native language Provide incentives for after-school programs to help overcome educational handicaps Accessible vocational courses for those who have dropped out of school “Not in My Backyard” and “Pull the Latter After Me” History of USA says immigration is part of the country and will remain so Immigration and Public Policy

Transnational life of Mexicans in New York : 

Committee: seeks recognition for efforts on behalf of Ticuani men, women: Seek recognition and admiration of their peers of both sexes in context where the rules are changing Gangs: seek recognition for suffering, power, manhood Not all migrants will have transnational life, but it affects large portion of migrants Transnational life is changing assimilation experience for many Transnational life of Mexicans in New York

Course Wrap Up : 

Internal migration Introduction to Immigration in age of globalization, Theories on initiation and perpetuation of international migration, Migration Patterns, trends , and Immigrant Occupations, Identities Immigrant Acculturation, language, and education Religion and Immigration Border Enforcement and the Undocumented Trafficking, Migrant sex workers, Mail-order brides Refugees, Human Rights, asylum seekers, war displacement, and other forced immigration Feminization of Migration and Rights of Migrant Women Immigrant Domestic workers and Creation of Transnational Families, Immigrant transnationalism Impact of Migration on Origin Communities: remittances and Exodus of Workers, Incorporation, and Place of Immigrants in Society, second generation, criminalization of immigrants, Stress in immigrant families New Destinations of Immigration Course Wrap Up