Impacts of Migration | Geography for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Impacts on the Destination & Origin of Migrants

• International migration has been a long-standing phenomenon that has significantly influenced global cultures and cities like New York, Paris, and London.
• According to the World Bank (2012), international migration brings about substantial economic benefits for sending countries, receiving countries, and migrants themselves.
• However, there are dissenting views suggesting that these impacts may not always be positive, as concerns arise about the potential loss of cultural identity resulting from both international and internal migration.
• Impacts on Country of Destination

Impacts on Country of Destination

Impacts on Country of Origin

Impacts on Migrants

• Remittances are significant for the country of origin, especially in developing nations like Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Mexico.
• They are viewed as a form of 'bottom-up globalization' since they can make up to 20% of the annual GDP, leading to various positive impacts:
  • Helping decrease poverty
  • Creating a multiplier effect and boosting investment in a region
  • Softening the blow of a global economic downturn
• The primary sources of remittances include the USA, Germany, UK, Western Europe, and the Persian Gulf.
• In 2021, the top five recipient countries were India, China, Mexico, the Philippines, and Egypt.

Case Study - International Migration from Mexico to the USA

• One prominent instance of international migration involves individuals moving from Mexico to the United States.
• This migration route stands as one of the most significant international labor migration streams globally.
• Historically, there were two smaller waves of migration in the 1920s and 1950s, encouraged by the US government for temporary recruitment of Mexican guest workers.
• However, the substantial and persistent mass movement of people between Mexico and the USA has primarily emerged within the last 40 years.
• The states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas witness higher concentrations of Mexican migrants due to various factors:
  • Proximity to the border
  • Increased demand for immigrant farm workers
  • Long-established urban Mexican communities
• Approximately 24% of foreign-born residents in the USA are of Mexican origin, representing over 10.9 million individuals.
• Mexican nationals account for 51% of all unauthorized immigrants in the US, as reported by the Migration Policy Institute in 2020.
• In recent years, the number of Mexican migrants has declined due to several reasons, including:
  • Heightened immigration enforcement
  • Economic improvements in Mexico
  • Increased presence of US Border Patrols
  • The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Arguments Against Mexican Immigration

Some arguments opposing Mexican immigration include concerns such as:

• Negative environmental impacts due to population growth
• Perceived threats to established US culture
• Competition with low-skilled US workers for employment
• Potential rise in crime and illicit activities due to low incomes
• Increased burdens on healthcare, education, and detention systems

Advantages Brought by Mexican Immigrants

Conversely, proponents highlight various benefits that Mexican immigrants have brought to the United States, including:

• The widespread teaching of Spanish in US schools, enriching the skills of young learners
• Increased tax contributions to the government
• Rising popularity of Mexican cuisine and music in the US
• Cultural celebrations like the National Taco Day in the United States

Pull Factors

• Higher average incomes in the USA
• Lower unemployment rates in the USA
• High population growth in Mexico resulting in faster labor force growth and competition for few available jobs
• Quality of life is better in the USA than in Mexico
• Ability to send remittances back to Mexico

Push Factors

• High crime rates in Mexico
• Higher unemployment and poverty rates
• High rates of subsistence farming
• Hot arid and semi-arid conditions cause water shortages, limiting agricultural potential
• Natural hazards such as earthquakes

Impacts of Migration on Mexico

• Rural areas experience a shortage of economically active individuals
• In certain rural regions, there is a gender imbalance with women facing challenges in finding suitable partners
• Specific villages like Santa Ines have witnessed a significant decline in population
• Remittances from Mexicans in the US have emerged as a vital income source for Mexico, boosting the economy
• In Axochiapan, the absence of husbands and fathers for extended periods has led to women shouldering the responsibility of raising children, with the community increasingly reliant on remittances
• Critics contend that reliance on remittances may hinder local initiatives and motivation for progress
• Youth migration results in an aging population in these communities
• Decreased birth rates spell a gradual decline for these localities

Impacts of Migration on the Country of Destination - U.S.A.

• Illegal immigration leads to significant expenses for the U.S., including costs for border patrols, fences, and detention centers.
• Mexican immigrants are often viewed as a burden on the U.S. economy.
• Migrant workers contribute to keeping wages low, impacting unskilled American workers.
• The presence of migrant communities can escalate cultural and racial tensions in urban areas.
• The U.S. economy benefits from the labor of low-wage Mexican migrants.
• Mexican culture has greatly influenced the U.S. border states, introducing elements like food, language, and music (e.g., National Taco Day, mariachi bands).
• A significant number of illegal Mexican immigrants are employed in various sectors such as restaurants, janitorial services, transportation, gardening, construction, and manual labor.
• Tensions between Mexican immigrants and other ethnic groups have risen due to concerns about job availability for working-class Americans and other immigrant communities.
• Opposition to illegal immigration has spurred the creation of 'Minutemen' groups, civilian organizations that monitor U.S. borders and confront undocumented workers nationwide.
• Remittances, money sent by immigrants to their home countries, are perceived as economic losses for the U.S. In 2021 alone, $48.9 billion was remitted to Mexico from the U.S.