Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Today, the United States is the temporary residence of at least 20% of the
world's expatriates. Following the 2000 census, and according to the latest
population estimates, 12% of the US population was born abroad. This strategy of
systematic immigration since 1965 serves multiple purposes, including economic,
demographic and strategic ones.
First, it serves the goal of supplying the labor market by maintaining low wages
for unskilled workers (competitiveness and anti-trade union policies). Just as in the
years 1880-1915, the African-American community was the first victim of the
immigration of Latinos who became their competitors for unskilled jobs.
It also serves to fuel scientific research, innovation, and American technological
leadership (H1-B visas, PhD programs, etc.). The brain-drain from other countries,
which began in 1945, is a constant in the geopolitical and geoeconomic strategy of
US authorities.
Immigration also boosts the fertility rate, which had fallen to the low rate of
1.8 children per woman between 1975 and 1985. The laws of naturalization for
children born in the US protects the illegal immigrant who has had a child on
American soil from expulsion. The TFR increased to 2.04 children per woman,
making the US population the youngest of the developed nations and the country
with the highest population growth. Women of Hispanic origin (15% of women
aged 15 to 49 years) had 19% of the births in 2003.
Immigration reduces the average age of the population and renews the working
age population since immigrants are mostly young adults. The replacement ratio of
the working age population (ratio of 15-24 year olds as compared with 55-64 year
olds) was 159% in 2000, compared with an average of 140% for all developed
countries.
More indirectly, immigration extends the influence of the United States around
the world. The Diversity Immigrant Visa program promotes a Green Card lottery (to
obtain permanent residence) for nationals of countries that have sent less than
50,000 immigrants to the United States within the five preceding years. The Refugee
Act of 1986 serves similar purposes.
Since September 11, 2001, immigration to the United States seems to depend
more heavily on the contribution of Latin America. The percentage of the US
population born in Asia has begun to decline. After rising steadily until 2002, the
number of foreign students has dropped since 2004.
