• Migration
• Refugee

Immigration

Immigration is the reverse of emigration. However, the bringing in of slaves was not usually considered immigration. The long term and/or permanent movement of human population in general, whether into, out of, or within countries (or before the existence of recognised countries) is regarded as migration; this is often hard to distinguish from nomadic or seasonal movement.

Throughout the world immigration is a controversial issue. All developed nations put severe restrictions on who can immigrate to them. These are usually justified on economic grounds with worries that many poor workers would lower wages and the nation's standard of living as well. Sometimes the actual reason for limiting immigration is cultural. This is felt most strongly in homogenous old world nations where citizenship was long tied to a person having deep historical roots in the country. Western European nations, Japan, and other countries have long been deeply concerned about their national culture being subsumed by a tide of immigrants. This concern is especially high when the immigrants are of differing race or religion than the majority. Immigration into European countries has a long tradition, though until recently the levels were relatively modest. Recent increases in immigration (combined with, according to some, xenophobia), have led to the development of political parties in Europe which are almost solely concerned with limiting immigration. Immigration has become an increasingly controversial topic among environmental activists in recent years, especially within the Sierra Club in the United States. Some environmentalists concerned with overpopulation favor limiting immigration as a means of isolating human population growth, while others argue that overpopulation and environmental degredation are global problems that can be far more effectively and humanely addressed by other methods.

Only four countries in the world actively encourage large numbers of immigrants. Israel, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. These nations still have strict requirements insisting immigrants demonstrate employable skills or economic clout before being permitted to immigrate. Many other countries permit immigration in particular circumstances, e.g., to fill jobs where a skill is not available locally, for wealthy investors or business leaders, in cases of marriage, multiple citizenship or asylum, or under multilateral agreements such as within the European Union or between New Zealand and Australia.

Much immigration occurs for economic reasons. Wage rates vary greatly between different countries and individuals of third world countries in particular can have far higher standards of living in developed countries than in their homes. The economic pressure to migrate can be so high that when legal means are restricted illegal immigration can become an important industry. Other common reasons for immigration include flight from persecution and the desire to join close friends and family members.

Some economists argue that a free global labour market with no restrictions on immigration would, in the long run, boost global prosperity and would have a more beneficial economic impact than free trade of goods and capital. Others disagree and argue that unrestricted immigration can serve to depress wages and circumvent unionization, and contribute to unsustainable levels of population growth.

See also:

Table of contents

1 General Immigration topics 2 US Immigration topics 3 British Immigration topics 4 Australian Immigration topics 5 Immigration Activist Topics 6 Further Reading

General Immigration topics

• Immigration policy
• Illegal immigration
• Brain drain
• Rural Migration

• Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
• Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services
• Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• United States Immigration Act
• Immigration to the United States of America

• Burlingame Treaty (1868)
• Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

• British nationality law
• Immigration Apellate Authority
• Becoming a UK citizen

• White Australia policy

• migrants
• overpopulation
• refugees
• racism
• No Border Network
• Publixtheatre Caravan
• Schengen Information System
• International Organization for Migration