Migration from Latin America to the US is changing and policy needs to catch-up

[Judi Lynn]

An increasing number are now arriving at the U.S. southwest border because of crime, violence and insecurity in Central America.
Image: REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez

Written by
Jonathan Hiskey
Associate Professor , Vanderbilt University
Published
12 Apr 2017

A fundamental shift in U.S. immigration patterns is well underway.

Recent rhetoric from President Donald Trump and the focus of U.S. immigration policies suggest that Mexicans entering the U.S. without authorization are the principal challenge facing policymakers. That is no longer the case. The era of Mexico as the primary source of immigrants to the U.S. appears to be coming to a close.

An increasing number of individuals are now arriving at the U.S. southwest border because of crime, violence and insecurity in Central America. These are now far more decisive factors in decisions to emigrate than the traditional pull of economic opportunity in the U.S. Work I have done with colleagues on the factorsthat affect migration provides robust evidence for this shift.

Rather than trying to sneak across the U.S. border, many of these migrants are voluntarily surrendering to initiate asylum claims. This change in the profile of those arriving at the border suggests two things.

More:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/04/migration-from-latin-america-to-the-us-is-changing-and-policy-needs-to-catch-up

Editorials and other articles:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016183093