I. THE HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL BASIS FOR IMMIGRATION Why Do People Immigrate? In this section, we will explore the reasons for immigration. Why do people leave their country of residence to find a new country? The answer is found in what are called "Push and Pull factors." When people decide to migrate from one country to another, it is usually because something pulls them to a new place. Alternatively, there could be something pushes people away from the country where they already live.
Push Factors Push factors are forces that drive people away from their homes. Push factors relate to the person's home location and include negative things like a lack of jobs; famine, drought and other environmental concerns; poor medical care; war; and religious persecution. The history of migration to America is full of examples of push factors, like the Irish potato famine; the displacement caused by World War II, which included people fleeing both the Nazis and communist regimes; the fall of Cuba to communists; and the Vietnam War. All of these world events caused mass displacement and made living in certain countries very difficult.
Pull Factors Pull factors are advantages that the new country has over the old one. These are commonly things like better economic conditions; more religious freedom; better health care and educational opportunities; and a stable government which is not at war. Historically, the U.S. has had very high pull factors for people around the world. The U.S. has long been recognized for having high quality of living, with fewer class stratifications than other countries, which enables people to be more upwardly mobile. One of the most common reasons for migration to America is the desire of American employers to hire foreign workers. In the 1990s, the U.S. needed more skilled foreign workers, and immigration law changed to allow
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