By 1970 the United States had the lowest percentage of foreign-born people since the eighteen nineties. Forty years ago, 9.6 million immigrants comprised 5.6% of the population. The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 paved the way towards change for the blatantly racist laws enacted after WWI. Also referred to as The Hart-Celler Act, it was finally enacted in June of 1968 and shifted immigration policy to favor reunification of families and give preference to professionals with skills needed in the US. Today, 40 million people living in this country were born in other countries and became legal citizens. They make up almost 13 % of our population.
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The top three countries people emmigrate to America today are Mexico, India and China. Though other latin countries contribute a large percentage as a whole, the larger population in these countries simply provide more people.
China
Historical
Though largely overshadowed by European immigration, Chinese immigrants have made significant contributions our society. In 1848, China was being devastated by civil wars and famine. Rumors spread of Gum Saan (the "Gold Mountain") in America, and the first wave of immigration began. Then, in 1865, a second wave came to build the transcontinental railroad. The breakneck spread of its construction was extremely dangerous and occasionally deadly. Chinese men agreed to work for wages much lower than other laborers. Many Americans, especially those on the West Coast, grew fearful of the country becoming overpopulated, spurring a retaliatory wave of violence against Chinese immigrants that lasted until the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. This act made immigration almost nonexistent and restricted travel for those already in the U.S. The act was repealed in 1943 to appease China, who was an American ally in WWII.
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Push Factors Today
Although America's school system ranks 17
th
in the world and students in Shanghai were recently ranked in first place, 80% of Chinese immigrants today state that they come to the United States to get a better education for their children. The majority of immigrants today are significantly better off than their predecessors. They are, for the most part, educated and considered elite. In 2011, 90,000 Chinese citizens were granted U.S. residency. Parents feel that the educational system in China requires extensive rote learning and test taking. There is also a huge emphasis on "patriotic education." Curriculum is written by the Communist Party and offers a sanitized- and some would say, skewed- version of history. Higher education is extremely competitive, and includes grueling entrance exams, despite not being highly regarded outside of China.
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This has led to a profound brain drain.
Poverty and lack of opportunity have also motivated immigration. In the last few decades, hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens have been voluntarily smuggled into our country by brokers known as "Snakeheads." They are drawn here because the work, though long and hard, pays four to five times what they could make in China.
India
Historical
Though considered part of the 19
th
century "Yellow Peril," and deemed undesirable for their religion and turbans, Hindus- as they were once called- were not as feared as other immigration groups. This was due, impart, to the fact that they did not hail from more populous "oriental" communities. At the end of the century Indian workers typically worked 19 hour days, earning approximately 18 cents an hour. Indian men were considered hard workers and this slave-labor wage was still more than they could expect in their native country. When restrictions on Chinese immigration were lifted in 1943, Indians citizens petitioned for similar rights. The Luce-Celler bill was signed by President Truman in January of 1946. This law granted naturalization rights to Filipinos and Asian Indians. Four years later, India became the world's largest democracy. With this new found freedom many found the courage necessary to immigrate to the United States. These individuals were not the indentured servants (often called "Punjab") from the turn of the century. They were now, by in large, educated and skilled.
In 2012, the Indian population in the United States was 1.9 million, making it the third largest immigrant group. There are approximately 330,000 Indians on our Visa wait list. They comprise a vibrant community that has much to offer.
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Push Factors Today
India has the 2
nd
largest population in the world. It is home to an incredibly diverse culture. Indian society today retains much of its historic caste system. Immigration to the west- and especially to Canada because of its free health care- provides more opportunities for families to raise their social status. Other factors include a struggling Indian economy, pollution, natural disasters, overpopulation, and a prevalence of illness.
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Mexico
Historical
Mexico and the United States' relationship has, from its very beginning, been fraught with tension and often times far from neighborly. In the second half of the 19th century, thousands of field hands immigrated to the US. This territory that, until recently, had been part of Mexico, so there was a fine line between migration and immigration. This contentious relationship continued after Mexican-American War in which Mexico had conceded its claim to Texas. This on-again off- again relationship became especially erratic when WWI began. During wartime, Mexican labor was essential for the military's war effort, then peacetime saw America restricting immigration. In 1924, the first border patrol was formed and with it, the stigmatizing term "illegal alien."
During WWII large numbers of laborers were needed once again ensure a steady food supply. Workers were known as braceros, and were encouraged to legally and illegally immigrate. After the Korean War, the US began to restrict its borders once more. In the 1960s, outrage began to simmer over the inhumane treatment of these workers. Between 1965 and 1985, many Mexicans traveled back and forth between the two countries for seasonal work. This cyclical movement ensured that there were not many undocumented workers at any given time. The strengthening of the border patrols and the building of the wall did not deter crossings, but did and does deter returns.
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Push Factors Today
In Mexico 47% of the population lives below the poverty level. While the unemployment rate is typically lower than those in the United States, the income gap is huge. Minimum wage in Mexico is about 65 pesos a day. This translates to 61 cents an hour by US standards. Many Mexicans are farmers in a land that is arid; water shortages throughout the country have been devastating.
Money sent back home to Mexico by immigrants is important for the country's economy. In 2011, workers sent home 22 billion dollars.
Violent crime is alto a push factor. In 2011, there were 12,358 murders linked to drug trafficking.
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