Immigration in the U.S. There

Immigration in the U.S.

There is no better nation than the United States to analyze for changes and the social impact of immigration, as nearly the whole story of America is one of immigration and the changes caused by it. There are examples throughout history of voluntary, reluctant and forced migration. Though these issues have been lessoned since immigration restrictions have gone into effect, the last 75 years of immigration history in the U.S. is still rich with examples.

Indeed, the significance of immigration in American life and the American economy had been declining for more than forty years. The number of foreign-born persons in the United States in 1970 (9.6 million people) was lower in absolute terms than at any previous (or subsequent) time in the 20th century. (Briggs, 1995, p. 37)

The changes associated with immigration are clearly evident in immigration statistics as well as the varied reasons why individuals chose to immigrate to the United States. Forced immigration, was virtually eliminated, but many WWII refugees immigrated reluctantly, though for the most part the immigration that has taken place during this period has been voluntary. (Hing, 1993)

The top nations of origin for immigration and the numbers that correspond over the period from the 1930s to the 1980s demonstrate diversity as well as significant shifts in immigration patterns and secondarily immigration policy.

1930s [Total] 528,431 Germany 114,058 21.6* Canada and Newfoundland 108,527 20.5 Italy 68,028 12.9 United Kingdom 31,572 6.0

1940s [Total] 1,035,039 Germany 226,578 21.9 Canada and Newfoundland 171,718 16.6 United Kingdom 139,306 13.5 Mexico 60,569 5.9

1950s [Total] 2,515,479 Germany 477,765 19.0 Canada and Newfoundland 377,952 15.0 Mexico 299,811 11.9 United Kingdom 202,824 8.1

1960s 3,321,677 Mexico 453,937 13.7 Canada and Newfoundland 413,310 12.4 Italy 214,111 6.4 United Kingdom 213,822 6.4

1970s [Total] 4,493,314 Mexico 640,294 14.2 Philippines 354,987 7.9 Korea 267,638 6.0 Cuba 264,863 5.9

1980s [Total] 7,328,062b Mexico 1,655,843b 14.0 Philippines 548,764b 4.6 China 346,747b 2.9 Korea 333,746b 2.8

The number following the total for the country of origin is the percentage of immigration from that nation during the decade. b These figures include recipients of legalization under Immigration Reform and Control

Act of 1986 who immigrated to the United States prior to 1982 but are recorded as having entered in year in which they received permanent residence.

Source: U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1993, tables 1 and 2. (DeSipio & De la Garza, 1998, p. 19)

The most notable shift, though there are other significant changes in the period beginning in the 1930s is the shift from German immigration, being the highest to the 1960s transition where Mexican migration reached the number of 453,937.

A great deal of the German (and other European) immigration, was in part associated with WWII and the preceding and following political and social chaos, that led many German's to seek immigration to America between the two world wars. The war within Germany, when many restrictions and changes made living very difficult, specifically for the Jewish population, created countless messages of the need to immigrate to a nation with fewer restrictions. (Lederhendler, 2007, p. 1) the war years, also increased immigration from Europe as the German hostilities spread throughout Europe and destruction and depravity reigned supreme. Lastly, there was an intense level of immigration following the war, as the extreme destruction lead to a rebuilding that looked impossible to many, who had lost nearly everything that wasn't a liquid asset during the war.

The shift for Mexico is significant in that it goes from almost nothing in the 1930s to 4,493,314 in the 1970s, while European immigration declines significantly during the period. Pastor categorizes the last century (ending in the 1980s) as falling into several categories, with regard to immigration policy, which he also notes is open for debate, as it is usually done in public debates in Congress and between the executive branch and congress.

While policy during this period may be categorized in many ways, a Latin American perspective suggests four useful divisions...: Defining Limits, 1875-1921; the Classical Special Relationship, 1921-1964; From Special Relationship to Global Policy, 1965-1978; and the Special Case -- Illegal Migration.

1984, p. 37)

The shift associated with immigration from, European sources to Latin America, and namely Mexico is well documented and determinant of many social issues, including those designated with the legal immigration sphere as well as those designated illegal, by virtue of the manner in which immigration is done. This was also a shift, in that there had been significant movements during and following the great depression, in the 1930s to suppress immigration from Mexico, relating to fears associated with mass unemployment and economic fear. After this period, restrictions were relaxed, especially as the Mexican and other Latin American nations economies have fluctuated in and out of livable circumstances for a growing population.

As the U.S. economy sank into depression, immigration again became an issue. In 1930 a concerted attempt was made to remove Mexico, the independent Caribbean, and the rest of Latin America from the quota-exempt category. The debate focused on illegal migrants from Mexico, who were alleged to be taking jobs at a time of rising unemployment.... Senator Henrik Shipstead of Minnesota posed the issue compellingly: "I would very much prefer to have it found possible not to put any of the nations of the Western Hemisphere on a quota basis, but in view of our unemployment situation, I do not see how we are going to avoid it." (Pastor, 1984, p. 41)