CASE STUDY - USA

Question 1

immigration patterns to the USA

Answer 1

• one of largest immigration populations most from Mexico, China, India, Philippines
• 2023 47.8 million immigrants 14.5% of population
  more recent years immigration has shifted
• mexican migration slowed - stricter US border control, better economic conditions in Mexico and declining birth rate
• more migration from china and india - highly skilled workers due to demand in tech and medical sectors
• higher numbers of central american assylm seekers from Guatemala escaping violence and political instability

Question 2

emigration from the USA

Answer 2

• 2025 - 4.5 mill US ppl living abroad
• main destinations: mexico, canada, uk, germany, austrailia
• reasons: jobs, weather, retirement (old ppl retire to Mexico, Caribbean bc lower living costs, family unification (dual national families)

Question 3

US migration policies and regulations as of 2025

Answer 3

1. annual immigration cap
   - 140,000 employment-based visas/year
   - 480,000 family reunification visas/year
   - Immediate family of US citizens not subject to the cap
2. green card system: Permanent residency via employment, family sponsorship, or diversity lottery
3. H-1B visa programme
   - Cap: 65,000 standard + 20,000 with U.S. master’s degrees
   - 2024: ~400,000 applications
   - Most from India and China in tech, finance, healthcare
4. refugee + asylum policy
   - FY 2024 refugee cap: 125,000
   - some quotas (e.g. for Afghanistan) have been reduced
   - “Remain in Mexico” policy reintroduced
5. border control and illegal immigration
   - Heavy investment in Mexico border security
   * Drones, sensors, patrol agents
   * Military deployment (10,000 troops, 2,500 National Guard)
   * Border wall construction ongoing under Trump
   * Legal proposals to limit asylum rights (e.g. suspending habeas corpus)

Question 4

interdependence with countries linked to USA migration - USA<–>MEXICO

Answer 4

• 2023 10.7 mill mexican-born ppl live in US - largest immigration group
• remittances to mexico 2023 reached record of $63.3bill - contributing massively to local development and economic stability in mexico
• trade agreements –> US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) replaced NAFTA - facilitaes trade + business
• 2025 - trump implemented stricter immigration policies leading to increased smuggling + trafficking

Question 5

interdependence with countries linked to USA migration - USA <–> CHINA/INDIA

Answer 5

• skilled immigrants - from china and india - highly represented in tech, engineering, medicine
• H-1B Visa Porgramme - key pathway for skilled workers. 2025 Indian national recieved approx 70% of the 85k H-1B vias issues –> shows their significance in us tech industry
• international students –> for unis and skls: 2023–2024 academic year, there were 330k Indian students and 270k chinese

Question 6

opportunities created by migration

Answer 6

1. Fill labour shortages - immigrants take up 20% of low paid jobs - agriculture, construction, hospitality. Highly skilled work in medicine, engineering, research - innovation
2. Economic growth - contribute to GDP, pay taxes, create new businesses.
3. Cultural diversity - food, art, business in places like NYC, LA
   Brain gain - attracts top global talent in science, engineering and entrepreneurship

Question 7

challenges created by migration

Answer 7

1. Illegal immigration - 11 million unauthorized immigrants, with 4 million from Mexico - informal working leads top exploitation and poor working conditions
2. Border control and crime - human smuggling and drug trafficking increases tensions in US- Mexico border . £££ security doesn’t stop it all.
   Pressure on public services - strains on schools, healthcare, social welfare programmes - LA, Texas, Florida with high migrant populations. Higher demand for bilingual education and healthcare for non-English speakers

Question 8

todays current situtation in the USA in terms of immigration

Answer 8

• Reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy requiring asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their claims are processed.
• New sections of the U.S.–Mexico border wall are being constructed or reinforced.
• Over 10,000 active-duty troops and 2,500 National Guardsmen have been deployed to the southern border.
• Increased ICE raids and detentions targeting undocumented migrants, with proposals to suspend habeas corpus for some cases.
• Cuts to refugee quotas and termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for several countries, including Afghanistan.
• US Coast Guard has tripled maritime patrol forces to stop smuggling from Latin America.