A Primer: Pros and Cons of this Global Development Issue Tracy Evans Mass Migration A Primer: Pros and Cons of this Global Development Issue Tracy Evans

Mass Migration: the overview People have been emigrating en mass for years. Whether our beliefs lend themselves more toward the idea of a Homo Erectus walking out of Africa a million years ago, or toward the people of Israel’s exodus from Egypt thousands of years ago, we can all agree that this is no new issue. Homo Erectus- Wikipedia Commons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_Erectus Black Moses- Wikipedia Commons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Moses_the_Black

Mass Migration; the overview Nevertheless, issues related to mass migration are high on public and political agendas all around the world, and opinions run toward the far ends of the spectrum. While society often goes to the extremes of labeling people opposed to taking in more immigrants as xenophobes or racists, and those in favor of taking on more immigrants as subversive or unpatriotic, the reality is that we are all concerned about the good of our respective corners of this global community. This is no easy issue. Here are some considerations:

Mass Migration: Pros In Host Country: Vacancies and skills gaps can be filled Economic growth can be sustained Revives dwindling tax base Services to an aging population can be maintained when there are insufficient young people locally The pension gap can be filled by the contributions of new young workers and they also pay taxes. Immigrants bring energy and innovation Host countries are enriched by cultural diversity Failing schools (and those with falling numbers) can be transformed In Country of Origin: Developing countries benefit from remittances (payments sent home by migrants) that now often outstrip foreign aid. Unemployment is reduced and young migrants enhance their life prospects Returning migrants bring savings, skills and international contacts Population pressures are reduced

Mass Migration: Cons Host Country: Depression of wages may occur Having workers willing to work for relatively low pay may allow employers to ignore productivity, training and innovation Migrants may be exploited Increases in population can put pressure on public services Unemployment may rise if there are unrestricted numbers of incomers There may be integration difficulties and friction with local people Large movements of people lead to more security monitoring Ease of movement may facilitate organized crime and people trafficking In Country of Origin Economic disadvantage through the loss of young workers Loss of highly trained people, especially health workers Social problems for children left behind or growing up without an extended family

Mass Migration: the United States This issue is one of the most politically volatile issues in the United States. Politicians, on both sides of the “aisle”, grapple with it each day. The following video shows a June 2013 press conference offered by the White House on Immigration Reform.

Mass Migration: Attempts at Policy Pro-Immigration Reform, June 11, 2013: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJdWNMfrX-M

Mass Migration: In Conclusion The debate on this topic will likely continue for many years to come. In the search for a better life, migration is often seen as the only option. For others, migration is seen as nothing less than a burden. The United States is certainly not the only country grappling with this issue, but the policy decisions that we make now will have long-lasting, and life changing consequences for people all around the world. http://www.embraceni.org/migration/the-pros-and-cons-of-migration/ http://immigration.procon.org// http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-immigration.html http://www.illegalimmigrationstatistics.org/weighing-illegal-immigration-pros-and-cons/

Mass Migration: Notes Homo Erectus- Wikipedia Commons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_Erectus Black Moses- Wikipedia Commons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Moses_the_Black http://www.embraceni.org/migration/the-pros-and-cons-of- migration/ http://immigration.procon.org// http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of- immigration.html http://www.illegalimmigrationstatistics.org/weighing-illegal- immigration-pros-and-cons/