Immigration: definition, types, history, and social impact
Overview of immigration: what it is, main categories (voluntary, forced, refugee, asylum), legal processes, historical examples, causes, and social and economic effects.
Overview
Immigration is the movement of people into a country other than their country of origin with the intention to live there for a prolonged period. Individuals who do this are called immigrants. The concept is closely related to migration generally and can include a wide range of circumstances, from planned relocation for work or family to forced movement prompted by conflict or disaster. The same person is sometimes referred to as an emigrant when leaving their place of origin and as an immigrant when arriving at a new destination. Immigration involves legal, social, economic and humanitarian dimensions.
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Types and legal status
Immigration is commonly divided into categories according to cause and legal status. Broad types include:
- Voluntary economic migration, when people move for work, education or family reunification.
- Forced migration, when people flee violence, persecution, or environmental catastrophe; those who cross borders for protection are often described as refugees or as asylum seekers while their claims are considered.
- Irregular or undocumented migration, sometimes called "illegal" migration, which describes people present in a country without the required authorization.
Process and pathways
States regulate who may enter and stay, using visas, residence permits and naturalization. A common path in many countries is first obtaining a long-term residence permit and later applying for citizenship. For example, in the United States lawful permanent residents commonly hold a "green card" as evidence of authorized residence; after a period of continuous residency and meeting other conditions they may become eligible to apply for citizenship. Administrative processes, documentation requirements and waiting periods vary widely across jurisdictions.
Causes, patterns and history
Migration results from a mix of push and pull factors: people leave because of poverty, insecurity, persecution, or environmental changes and are drawn by economic opportunity, family ties, safety, or social services. Historically, large-scale migrations have shaped societies; for instance, many people left Europe in the 19th century and arrived in America, altering demographics and economies. Internal migration — moving within national borders — is also important and often interacts with international flows.
Social and economic impacts
Immigration influences labor markets, public services, and cultural life. Immigrants can fill labor shortages, start businesses, and contribute tax revenue, while also creating demands on housing, education and health services. The effects depend on the scale of migration, the receiving country’s policies, and local economic conditions. Immigrant communities often form social networks that facilitate further migration and integration.
Distinctions and notable facts
Few terms are interchangeable: "immigrant" and "emigrant" describe the same person from different viewpoints; "refugee" and "asylum seeker" have specific legal meanings under international law; and "undocumented" is preferred in many contexts to "illegal" because it distinguishes legal status from a person’s inherent worth. Discussion about immigration frequently touches on human rights, border control, labor standards and international cooperation. For further reading on migration as a broader concept, see resources on migration and migration policy. For general definitions of places of origin and destination, the concept of a native region and the idea of a destination country are useful starting points.
Examples and case studies illustrate these themes: voluntary economic migrants, displaced populations seeking refuge, and policies that encourage family reunification each raise distinct legal and social questions. Policymakers balance national interests with humanitarian obligations, and civil society plays a central role in advocacy and support for newcomers.
Understanding immigration requires attention to legal categories, historical patterns, human motivations and the practical consequences for both migrants and receiving communities.
native region • country • refugee • asylum • migration • emigrant • Europe • America
Stats
See also: List of countries by net migration rate and immigrant shares by country
According to a 2006 report by the United Nations (UN) General Secretariat on Global Immigration and Development, there are approximately 200 million immigrants worldwide. The UN defines an international migrant as a person who leaves his or her place of habitual residence - understood as the place where he or she spends daily or weekly rest and leisure time - and settles in another place in another state, making it the new place of habitual residence.
According to this UN definition, the percentage of immigrants in selected member states in Europe in 2014 was as follows:
| Country | Share | Most represented countries of origin |
| Luxembourg | 45,28 % | Portugal, France, Italy |
| Spain | 10,06 % | Romania, Morocco, Ecuador |
| Austria | 12,42 % | Germany, Serbia, Turkey |
| Belgium | 11,29 % | Italy, France, Netherlands |
| Germany | 8,68 % | Turkey, Russia, Poland |
| United Kingdom | 7,77 % | Ireland, India, Pakistan |
| Italy | 8,1 % | Romania, Albania, Morocco |
| Sweden | 7,12 % | Finland, Iraq, Poland |
| France | 6,31 % | Algeria, Morocco, Portugal |
| Netherlands | 4,37 % | Turkey, Morocco, Indonesia |
Migration movements in the 20th century
- Religious, cultural and political persecution in many countries, especially in Europe and the Middle East, led in the 20th century, especially in the 1930s, to liberals and Jews, for example, emigrating to more open societies, such as the United States of America, Canada or Australia.
- Some 12 to 14 million Germans and ethnic Germans from various states were affected by flight and expulsion between 1944/45 and 1950.
- The end of the colonial era led to many people coming to the (still or no longer) colonial countries from overseas colonies, especially in metropolises such as London, Paris and Brussels.
- The decades-long German economic upswing after the war led to the recruitment of so-called guest workers from countries such as Turkey, Italy, Spain, Greece, Morocco or Yugoslavia (labour migration). The number of immigrants continued to increase due to family reunification. Guest workers usually had temporary contracts and were only supposed to stay in Germany for a while. The majority therefore eventually returned to their countries of origin, but a small proportion remained in Germany. As a result, even after the recruitment stop in 1973, millions of people from the former guest worker countries followed the guest workers. They sought work in Germany or migrated for other reasons and generally remained in the country. Other Western European countries concluded similar agreements.
- After the end of the Second World War and until the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, many people fled political persecution from the countries of the former Eastern Bloc to the West.
- After the fall of the Iron Curtain, many Eastern European migrants came to Western Europe.
- After the surrender of South Vietnam in 1975, over 1.6 million South Vietnamese fled the country on boats (so-called boat people) in the following 20 years. Many of them managed to immigrate to a Western country, either directly or via intermediate stops.
- As a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union, ethnic German immigrants came to Germany in the early 1990s.
- Due to political causes such as war, upheaval or political persecution, numerous people from the Near and Middle East and Africa applied for asylum in Germany and elsewhere, especially in the 1980s and 1990s.
- From war zones such as the disintegrating Yugoslavia, hundreds of thousands of people from the Balkan countries came to Western Europe in the 1990s, mostly to German-speaking countries.
- Up to the present, refugee movements from dysfunctional or war- and civil war-affected countries in Africa and the Middle East (incl. Afghanistan) to the global North have increased sharply, culminating in the refugee crisis in Europe from 2015.
Questions and answers
Q: What is immigration?
A: Immigration is when people move from their native regions to live in another country.
Q: What are people called who immigrate to another country?
A: People who immigrate to another country are called immigrants.
Q: Are all immigrants legal?
A: No, not all immigrants are legal. Some are illegal immigrants.
Q: What are some types of immigrants?
A: Some types of immigrants include refugees and those who ask for political asylum.
Q: What does someone need to do to become a legal citizen of the United States?
A: To become a legal citizen of the United States, someone needs to apply and be accepted. Once accepted, they will receive a green card which they must keep for at least five years.
Q: What is a green card?
A: A green card is a piece of evidence stating that someone is trying to legally stay within a country's borders.
Q: What is the difference between an immigrant and an emigrant?
A: An immigrant is someone who arrives in a new country to live, while an emigrant is someone who leaves their own country or region. The same person can be referred to as an emigrant when leaving their home country and an immigrant when arriving somewhere else.
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AlegsaOnline.com Immigration: definition, types, history, and social impact Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/46846