Introduction

Introduction—Worldwide Immigrants Statistics

·         Worldwide, there is an estimated 191 million immigrants;

·         The last 50 years has seen an almost doubling of immigration;

·         115 million immigrants live in developed countries;

·         20% (approximately 38 million) live in the US alone, making up 13% of its population;

·         33% of all immigrants live in Europe;

·         75% live in just 28 countries;

·         Women constitute approximately half of all migrants at around 95 million;

·         Between 1990 and 2005

·         There were 36 million migrations (an average of approximately 2.4 million per year);

·         33 million wound up in industrialized countries;

·         75% of the increases occurred in just 17 countries;

·         Immigration decreased in 72 countries in the same period;

Why Do People Emigrate?

People emigrate from one country to another for a variety of complex reasons. Some are forced to move, due to conflict or to escape persecution and prejudices, while others may voluntarily emigrate. Although such a move may be necessary, it can be quite traumatic on top of the challenges experienced so far.

From another perspective, immigration can also represent an act of courage. For example,

·         Moving to a different country with different culture and norms can be quite daunting;

·         The potential loneliness to be suffered is not always easy to overcome;

·         There may be the additional pressure to earn enough to live (in a more expensive-to-live-in country) and send back meager savings.

An economic migrant, a person searching for work, or better opportunities, will be stepping into the unknown—an exciting prospect if the person is already well-to-do, or daunting at least, if out of desperation.

As Inter Press Service (IPS) reported, the European Union has recently acknowledged a concern about immigration that has not received much media attention. That is, a large number of people are attempting to leave the devastation of their own country caused by the current form of globalization and other political and economic policies, which, as well as creating winners, is creating a large number of losers, and increasing inequality. Tackling poverty and addressing issues of development and opportunity are important aspects of tackling this type of immigration.

Effects Of Immigration

Immigration can have positive and negative impacts on both the host (recipient) country, and the original country.

The recipient country is usually an industrialized country in Western Europe, or the United States. For these countries, immigrants offer various benefits such as the following:

·         Immigrants will often do jobs that people in the host country will not, or cannot do;

·         Migrant workers often work longer hours and for lower salaries, and while that is controversial, sometimes exploitive, it benefits the host country;

·         Immigrants, when made to feel welcome in the host society, can contribute to the diversity of that society, which can help with tolerance and understanding;

·         For the host country’s economy, immigrants offer an increased talent pool, if they have been well educated in their original country.

But there are also numerous drawbacks:

·         Immigrants can be exploited for their cheap labor;

·         Developing countries may suffer “brain drain” as the limited resources they spend in educating their students amount to very little if that talent is enticed to another country. (The UK for example is often accused of actively hiring medical staff from developing countries. The previous link details this issue further.)

·         Immigration can also attract criminal elements, from trafficking in drugs and people to other forms of crime and corruption;

·         Immigration can become a social/political issue, where racism can be used to exploit feelings or as an excuse for current woes of local population;

·         Where there is a perception that immigrants and refugees appear to get more benefits than local poor people, tensions and hostilities can also rise;

·         Concerns about illegal immigration can spill over to ill-feelings towards the majority of immigrants who are law-abiding and contributing to the economy;

·         Many die trying to flee their predicament, and this can often make sensational headlines giving the appearance that immigration is largely illegal and “out of control.”

Despite what appears to be large population movements, Gary Younge, from the Guardiannoted some time ago that people still are not able to move as freely as commodities. In some places around the world, there are additional restrictions being put up on people’s movements.