Reference Document
Migration has become a phenomenon of vast proportions in the American Continent at the onset of the 21st Century. According to the United Nations, from the 200 Million migrants worldwide, 51.5 Million live in our hemisphere, i.e. one of every four migrants in the world lives in the Americas.
Of these 51.5 Million migrants, nearly half (around 24 Million) are so-called “internal migrants”, i.e., they come from within the American Continent. This internal migration, 24 Million strong, follows two general paths. The first and most important is the South-North path, with approximately 18 Million people migrating to the US and a few more to Canada. The second path goes in a South-South direction, with some 6.6 Million Latin Americans migrating to other Latin American countries. A third path could be added, although it has not been sufficiently documented nor researched: the growing migration from the US into Latin America.
3 out of 4 migrants in the Americas are in the United States. What is more, in the last ten years, the accelerated growth rates of migratory movements from Latin America (especially Mexico and Central America) to the US have increased the percentage of the Hispanic/Latino population as a part of immigrants living in the country. In 1990, Latinos represented 44.3% of foreigners in the US; by 2000 the rate was up to 51.7%; and by 2005 the rate had climbed to 54%.
According to Pew Hispanic Center demographer, Jeffrey Passel, almost 80% of all illegal immigrants in the US come from Latin America: 60% from Mexico alone, 10% from Central America, and 10% from other Latin American countries. As important as the number of new Latin American immigrants is the fact that they are arriving in regions of the US that so far did not receive large numbers of immigrants. In 1990, only 17 states counted 5% or more immigrants among their inhabitants; in 2005, that number of states was 29. Moreover, in 10 states (North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Nevada, Utah, Kentucky, Arizona, Iowa, Nebraska, and Colorado) experienced immigrant population growths surpassing 200% between 1990 and 2005.
There are three main consequences of these enormous immigration rates:
a) The new migratory wave from America Latina is creating the sensation that the US immigration system is out of control.
b) Latin American immigrants are the most vulnerable to abuse and discrimination, since most of them are illegally in the country.
c) Everything points to a further increase of migration from Latin America to the US. Smuggling networks are stronger than ever, and expulsion factors in migrants’ home countries (poverty, inequality, unemployment, etc.) still prevail. Adding to that, there is a growing need in the US for people willing to perform those activities at the base of the work pyramid, such as packers, babysitters, construction workers, janitorial personnel, gardeners, etc.
New political tendencies regarding immigration in the US
After three years of intense debate around the immigration agenda, with several calls by President George W. Bush to fix “the broken migratory policy”, a new consensus has emerged: a new migratory framework, with increased order and legality, is badly needed.
With Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nevada) failed initiative to advance immigration reform, it has become evident that said reform will have close to zero chances of passing, at least until mid-2009. However, since there is a consensus regarding the need for increased security and control, the executive branch, with the help of some never before seen efforts by state and local governments, is increasing control measures along the borders.
This is to say, a de facto immigration reform is already taking place. Facing an impasse in the Capitol, the President —together with state and local governments— are taking action to strengthen their hold on migration. From the Latin American migrants’ perspective, this de facto immigration reform embodies a preemptive “stick”. However, the corresponding “carrot” (regularization of undocumented migrants, guest worker programs, etc.) looms far away, beyond the horizon.
Participants in the Migration Forum will analyze the various alternative ways of dealing with the issue, from the Latin American and Hispanic/Latino perspectives, as well as assessing the consequences of prolonging the legislative impasse on the subject.
Moderator’s Role: The moderator should keep speakers’ presentations within the 12 minute time limit set for each one. During the Q&A session, the moderator should emphasize Latin Americans’ and Hispanic/Latinos’ positions vis á vis the stalled immigration reform in House and Senate. Furthermore, the moderator should explore the different ways that Latin Americans and Hispanics/Latinos have to influence legislators, such as lobbying, to improve the migratory climate in the US.
