Chapter 12 Immigration True or False 1. Countries that have high numbers of emigrants are said to be sending countries. Answer: True 2. After Mexico, China was the top sending country in 2010. Answer: False 3. Foreign-born citizens of the United States cannot become president or vice-president of the United States. Answer: True 4. Allocation of U.S. visas exhibit a strong family focus. Answer: True 5. In general, there are two paths to citizenship for foreign-born persons. The first is naturalization, and the second is deriving citizenship from one's parent(s). Answer: True 6. There were no numerical limitations on immigration to the United States in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Answer: True 7. The postwar boom ended the Bracero Program between the United States and Mexico after soldiers returned home at the end of World War II. Answer: False 8. The Immigration Act of 1965 eliminated national origins quotas on immigration. Answer: True 9. Important push factors that drive people to leave their home countries include economic hardship or political strife in the receiving country. Answer: False 10. The United States is Mexico's largest trading partner. Answer: True 11. Typically, migrants assume that the lower the cost of migration is, the greater the required improvement in the wage in the receiving country. Answer: False 12. The difference between movers-at-heart and tied movers is based on wage rates in the sending country. Answer: False 13. Among sociologists, indication of assimilation is limited to acquisition of U.S. citizenship. Answer: False 14. Spouses of natural-born U.S. citizens constitute the largest class of immigrants legally admitted to the United States. Answer: False 15. The idea of an ethnic enclave has roots in historical periods when people were forced to live with their similar. Answer: True 16. Research shows that immigrants who expect to stay permanently in the United States are more likely to learn English and move out of ethnic enclaves. Answer: True 17. The queue is much longer for immigrants seeking a family-based category of visa than for immigrants in employment-based categories. Answer: True 18. The probability of being fluent in English is higher among children born in the United States than those who immigrated with their parents at a young age. Answer: True 19. Social scientists have rarely attempted to assess the impacts of immigration on the United States. Answer: False 20. George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers concluded that, on average, U.S. citizens do not benefit from immigration. Answer: False 21. George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers concluded that 40 percent of scientists with PhDs working in the United States were born abroad. Answer: True 22. Money and goods flowing between immigrants moves only in one direction, from receiving country to sending country. Answer: False 23. Researchers almost universally believe that the true size of transfers through both formal and informal channels is larger than the recorded amount of such flows. Answer: True 24. Temporary migrants are more likely to send remittances than permanent residents. Answer: True 25. In 2010, Mexico received more migrant remittances than any other country. Answer: False Multiple Choice 1. In 2010, how many people lived outside of the country where they were born? A. about 202 million B. about 216 million C. about 225 million D. about 254 million Answer: B 2. Migration is a(n) __________, not a(n) __________. A. process; single event B. single event; process C. inflow; outflow D. outflow; inflow Answer: A 3. A sociological approach to immigration as a process considers all of the following EXCEPT __________ A. the planning stage B. the distance travelled C. the actual migration D. the initial idea Answer: B 4. __________ is the act of leaving a place. A. Assimilation B. Emigration C. Immigration D. Migration Answer: B 5. __________ is the act of arriving and settling in a place. A. Emigration B. Assimilation C. Migration D. Immigration Answer: D 6. The decision to emigrate and the consequences of immigrating are the result of __________. A. social structures and restrictions on certain groups B. social structures C. individual motivations and personalities D. individual motivations and personalities and social structures Answer: D 7. When it comes to migration, what pertinent assumption about people's motivations do sociologists make? A. that family dynamics matter more than individual motivations B. that everyone who migrates wants a better life C. that everyone who migrates rejects their country of origin D. that children who migrate lack motivation Answer: B 8. Other names for receiving countries are __________. A. destination or host countries B. destination or resident countries C. host or migratory countries D. migratory or resident countries Answer: A 9. Countries with high numbers of emigrants are __________. A. host countries B. migratory countries C. resident countries D. sending countries Answer: D 10. According to world migration data for 2010, __________ is the top sending country. A. China B. India C. Mexico D. the Russian Federation Answer: C 11. According to world migration data for 2010, __________ is the top receiving country. A. Australia B. Canada C. Saudi Arabia D. the United States Answer: D 12. According to world migration data for 2010, the top fifteen sending countries are located on which continents? A. Africa, Asia, and Australia B. Africa, Asia, and South America C. Asia, Europe, and North America D. Asia, Europe, and South America Answer: C 13. According to world migration data for 2010, the top fifteen receiving countries are located on which continents? A. Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America B. Asia, Europe, and North America C. Australia, Europe, and North America D. Europe and North America Answer: A 14. During the Cold War (roughly 1948-1989), the communist countries of Eastern Europe imposed what kind of restriction on emigration? A. the emigration of Communist Party members B. the emigration of well-educated and skilled people C. the emigration of Jews D. the emigration of anyone Answer: D 15. Who are the members of a country's diaspora? A. well-educated and skilled people who have left their countries of origin to make more money B. people who have returned to their countries of origin after temporary stays abroad C. people who have settled outside their countries of origin D. people who have been expelled from their countries of origin for criminal offenses Answer: C 16. A __________ is a document authorizing a foreign-born person to enter a country, either permanently or temporarily. A. migration contract B. passport C. transit application D. visa Answer: D 17. Emigration and immigration policies refer to sets of rules and regulations established by countries with regards to __________. A. currency transfers B. foreign exchange C. the movement of people across borders D. the movement of people and goods across borders Answer: C 18. Guards stationed at the Berlin Wall had orders to __________. A. revoke citizenship rights of anyone attempting to leave East Germany B. detain, for 24 hours, anyone attempting to leave East Germany C. imprison anyone attempting to leave East Germany D. shoot to kill anyone attempting to leave East Germany Answer: D 19. Current U.S. law recognizes __________ different classes of foreign-born persons living in the United States. A. two B. four C. five D. six Answer: B 20. Foreign-born persons living in the United States who become citizens have undergone what process? A. immigration B. legalization C. naturalization D. repudiation Answer: C 21. Another name for a legal permanent resident is __________. A. authorized migrant B. legal immigrant C. naturalized citizen D. non-immigrant Answer: B 22. Among foreign-born persons living in the United States, which of the following may NOT be authorized to work? A. foreign-born citizens B. LPRs C. non-immigrants D. unauthorized migrants Answer: D 23. How many classes of non-immigrant visas does the United States authorize? A. 17 B. 23 C. 26 D. 32 Answer: B 24. How long may foreign-born persons with F-1 student visas stay in the United States? A. one year B. four years C. until their course of study is completed D. indefinitely Answer: C 25. Which of the following statements about refugee or asylum status is true? A. Asylum status can be sought only at a port of entry. B. Asylum status can be sought only from outside the United States. C. A referral for refugee status can be sought only from outside the United States. D. Refugee status can be sought only when a person is already in the United States. Answer: C 26. Numerically unlimited LPR status is granted to which group or groups of people? A. spouses of adult U.S. citizens B. spouses and children of adult U.S. citizens C. spouses, children, and parents of adult U.S. citizens D. spouses, children, siblings, and parents of adult U.S. citizens Answer: C 27. How are visas designated for persons from countries underrepresented in recent immigration to the United States assigned? A. by congressional petition B. on a first-come, first served basis C. by lottery D. by presidential order Answer: C 28. How many persons per year are admitted to the United States with LPR status? A. about 50,000 B. about 500,000 C. about 1 million D. about 1.5 million Answer: C 29. At present, over 4.5 million persons waiting for numerically limited visas are approved, even though only approximately 366,000 visas are available each year, totalling over _____________ of visas that are already claimed. A. 7 years' B. 4 years' C. 12 years' D. 28 years' Answer: C 30. Why is a green card so coveted by foreign-born persons? A. It is the paper evidence of asylum status. B. It is the paper evidence of LPR status. C. It is the paper evidence of refugee status. D. It is the paper evidence of temporary legal status. Answer: B 31. Which of the following statements about the requirements for naturalization is false? A. Naturalization requires knowledge of U.S. history and government. B. Naturalization requires knowledge of English. C. Naturalization requires a parent who is a U.S. citizen. D. Naturalization requires a period of time as an LPR. Answer: C 32. Which of the following statements about the first immigration era in U.S. history (1789-1874) is true? A. During the first immigration era in U.S. history, noncitizens could vote. B. During the first immigration era in U.S. history, immigration was largely restricted to English, Dutch, and German immigrants. C. During the first immigration era in U.S. history, political parties actively campaigned for the loyalties of ethnic immigrant communities. D. During the first immigration era in U.S. history, a tax on each person entering the country was instituted. Answer: A 33. Which statement best characterizes the second immigration era in U.S. history (1875-1920)? A. The second immigration era in U.S. history can be best characterized as a period when immigration was largely unrestricted. B. The second immigration era in U.S. history can be best characterized as a period when there were no numerical limitations on immigration, only a growing set of exclusions. The second immigration era in U.S. history can be best characterized as a period when growing numerical limitations on immigration matched a growing set of exclusions. D. The second immigration era in U.S. history can be best characterized as free of explicit policy controls. Answer: B 34. Which groups did the National Origins Act of 1924 primarily attempt to exclude? A. Germans, Italians, and Jews B. Irish, Jews, and Slavs C. Italians, Jews, and Slavs D. Jews and Slavs Answer: C 35. Why was the Bracero Program started? A. to circumvent the quota system imposed by the National Origins Act B. to supply the growing aviation industry with skilled labor, in the years after World War II C. to supply labor for defense industry jobs during World War II D. to stem labor shortages, especially in agriculture and railroad maintenance, in the years after World War II Answer: D 36. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, what new measure has the government imposed on foreign-born persons in the United States or who wish to travel or study here? A. The United States has established a Diversity Visa Program, which limits immigration of people from the Caribbean. B. The United States has raised the eligibility requirements for lottery visas. C. The United States has made it more difficult for people from countries with large Muslim populations to enter the country. D. The United States has opened a new channel for "independent" immigration. Answer: C 37. Among the following factors, which is generally NOT considered a factor that influences decisions to migrate? A. economic hardship in the sending country B. political strife in the sending country C. shared history and borders between sending and receiving country D. higher wage rates in the sending country Answer: D 38. If the desire to migrate is strongest among the healthiest individuals in a sending country, sociologists say that __________. A. selection on health is negative B. selection on health is positive C. health is a push factor D. health is a pull factor Answer: B 39. For whom is the cost of migration likely to be lowest? A. for a low-skill, low-wage immigrant with low migrant energy B. for a high-skill, high wage immigrant, whose parents were stayers, not movers C. for a healthy immigrant with high migrant energy D. for a third-generation immigrant whose grandparents and parents were movers, not stayers Answer: D 40. However great their desire to move, some people will not migrate. What is the most plausible reason for this? A. Some individuals are tied stayers. B. Emigration and immigration policies bar some individuals from crossing borders. C. The search to make life better usually begins and ends locally. D. Most individuals, given the complexities of family dynamics, are rarely movers-at-heart. Answer: B 41. What is the difference between stayers-at-heart and tied stayers? A. Stayers-at-heart have low desire to migrate. B. Stayers-at-heart have high desire to migrate. C. Tied stayers lack sufficient push factors. D. Tied stayers lack sufficient pull factors. Answer: A 42. Which of the following statements about assimilation best defines the process? A. Assimilation is the process by which movers adopt the language of their host countries. B. Assimilation is the process during which the pace at which movers adopt the language of their host countries accelerates. C. Assimilation is the process ensures that immigrants learn to fit in before they move outward from isolated ethnic enclaves. D. Assimilation is the process by which movers adapt to their new societies. Answer: D 43. What do some fear will happen if immigrants fail to assimilate? A. movers will threaten the social fabric B. movers will raise the level of their remittances to sending countries C. movers will establish private schools D. movers will become citizens Answer: A 44. Who once wrote of immigrants, " the settling of them in a body… may be much questioned; for, by so doing, they retain the language, habits, and principles (good or bad) which they bring with them." A. John Adams B. Thomas Jefferson C. John Marshall D. George Washington Answer: D 45. Who once wrote of immigrants, that "by an intermixture with our people, they, or their descendants, get assimilated to our customs, measures, and laws: in a word, soon become one people." A. John Adams B. Thomas Jefferson C. John Marshall D. George Washington Answer: D 46. Of the following indicators, which is generally considered a poor sign of assimilation? A. whether immigrants learn the language of the host country B. whether immigrants become citizens of the host country C. whether immigrants start smoking or quit smoking D. whether immigrants are spatially concentrated Answer: D 47. Which two factors generally lead to lower spatial concentration of immigrants? A. lower socioeconomic status and lengthier duration of stay in the host country B. higher socioeconomic status and lengthier duration of stay in the host country C. higher socioeconomic status and degree of English fluency D. lower socioeconomic status and degree of English fluency Answer: B 48. What does intermarriage reduce the likelihood of, in the context of assimilation? A. the likelihood of achieving higher socioeconomic status B. the likelihood of remaining in the host country C. the likelihood of living together with the native-born population D. the likelihood of passing the culture of the home country on to the next generation Answer: D 49. Based on data from the New Immigrant Survey (2003) of the basic characteristics of new legal immigrants over 18 years of age, which of the following statements is true? A. less than a quarter of new legal immigrants is female B. one-third of new legal immigrants is female C. one-half of new legal immigrants is female D. more than one-half of new legal immigrants is female Answer: D 50. Of the following factors, which would be more likely than the others to influence immigrants to live near kin or conational? A. higher degree of assimilation B. intermarriage C. limited English fluency D. socioeconomic status close to that of native-born citizens Answer: C 51. Geographic areas that attract large numbers of persons of any single kind have come to be called __________. A. conational communities B. ethnic enclaves C. foreign folds D. new immigrant networks Answer: B 52. Which of the following is least likely to be considered an ethnic enclave? A. Koreatown in Los Angeles B. Greenwich Village of New York C. a Spanish-language barrio in Chicago D. a Spanish-language colonia in Texas Answer: B 53. Among the following, who is least likely to move out of an ethnic enclave? A. Emilio Mendosa , who is 77 years old and plans to stay in the United States for the rest of his life B. Angel Delgado, an LPR who just turned 18 and only speaks Spanish C. Joseph Mbuyo, who speaks English fluently D. Pradhiba Kannaiyan, whose stay in America is temporary Answer: A 54. Visas issued in the family-sponsored category, require what kind of documentation, in addition to national identity cards, birth certificates, and military records? A. an asylum application B. an affidavit of support signed by a U.S.-based sponsor C. sponsorship of a U.S. employer D. birth certificate of a U.S.-born relative Answer: B 55. Under U.S. immigration law, immigrant parents of children __________ their own children in order to obtain LPR status for those children. A. are required to sponsor B. are not allowed to sponsor C. may sponsor D. very reluctantly sponsor Answer: C 56. Under U.S. immigration law, a legal immigrant __________ to be eligible to sponsor a married daughter or son for immigration to the United States. A. must obtain citizenship status B. must have the requisite language skills C. must meet higher levels of socioeconomic status D. can have no more than four other children with legal resident status Answer: A 57. Who, among the following, is likely to be considered a golden child, in the context of U.S. immigration law? A. Elgin, a foreign-born child living with his foreign-born parents in Southern California B. Ilhan, a foreign-born child sent by his parents who are in the United States to be raised in their origin country C. Cornelia, a child left behind in Haiti by parents who are in Miami D. Stella, a child born to foreign-born parents while they were living is Queens Answer: D 58. What are second-generation children said to have inherited from their parents? A. at least a portion of their parents' migrant energy B. none of their parents' migrant energy C. none of their parents' tied mover status D. at least a portion of their parents' tied mover status Answer: A 59. What has research determined is the difference in English fluency between children born in the United States and children brought to the country before the age of four? A. Children born in the United States had a significantly higher probability of being fluent in English than those who immigrated at a young age. B. Children born in the United States had a slightly higher probability of being fluent in English than those who immigrated at a young age. C. Children born in the United States had no discernible difference in English fluency than those who immigrated at a young age. D. Children born in the United States had no discernible difference in English fluency than those who immigrated at a young age when their parents were proficient English speakers. Answer: A 60. Research on children ages 8 through 12 found that the probability of being fluent in English __________ among children whose parents had illegal experience than among children whose parents had never been unauthorized. A. was higher B. was lower C. was the same D. was near zero Answer: A 61. Of the following, which is the least plausible reason why children would be left behind in a sending country when their parents migrate? A. New LPRs may not have the financial resources necessary for bringing all their children with them when they migrate. B. By the time a numerically limited visa becomes available, the children may have lost their eligibility for visas (by getting married, for example). C. Children who have not seen the hardships of illegality are not equipped for new lives in a foreign country. D. Some visa categories do not provide visas for the children of new LPRs. Answer: C 62. George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers issued a "White Paper" on June 20, 2007, to assess the impacts of immigration on the United States. The report concluded that __________. A. immigration not only helps fuel the country's economic growth but also has a positive effect on the income of native-born workers B. immigration helps fuel the country's economic growth but has a negative effect on the income of native-born workers C. immigration helps fuel the country's economic growth in the aggregate but has a positive effect on the income of native-born workers only in certain locales D. immigration helps fuel the country's economic growth and has a positive effect on the income of native-born workers only in certain locales Answer: A 63. What percentage of PhDs in science working in the United States were born abroad? A. 20 percent B. 30 percent C. 40 percent D. 50 percent Answer: C 64. What term is used to denote monetary and nonmonetary flows in both directions, from immigrants to their home countries and from home countries to immigrants? A. currency exchanges B. migrant remittances C. remittances D. transfers Answer: D 65. Which group of immigrants is more likely than the others to send remittances? A. LPRs B. temporary migrants C. new immigrants D. second-generation immigrants Answer: B Scenario Multiple Choice 1. Which of the following fears is common among countries that may, in response, try to prevent emigration? A. fear of becoming less influential in the global market B. fear of citizens becoming spies against their native country C. fear of losing the best and the brightest of its citizens D. fear of not attracting enough immigrants to replace lost citizens Answer: C 2. Which of the following factors explains why U.S. immigration rules and regulations are so often changed and adjusted? A. concerns about declining population, especially in parts of the West and Northwest B. efforts to maintain policies similar to those of other nations C. efforts to maintain the country's status as a "melting pot" D. war, racism, prejudices, changing ideologies and tolerances, and fluctuating needs for labor Answer: D 3. Based on your knowledge of the push and pull factors of migration, which of the following persons is more likely than the others to move to another country? A. Juan, who often dreams of living in a country with more opportunities and wonders if his uncle's family would let him stay with them if he went to the United States B. Malak, who imagines how exciting it would be to live in another country where women are freer to express themselves politically and personally but knows that her parents would not approve C. Sami, who loves his native country and has many relatives who live nearby but is struggling to provide economically for his family D. Tessa, who loves her country but is very frustrated with its current political leaders and wonders if another country's political climate might suit her better Answer: A 4. Which of the following recent immigrants is more likely to have a better chance of assimilating fully into his or her new country's society? A. Anna, who struggles with her new language, is enjoying participating in the local customs, and is happy to have a good job and a nice apartment near her new friends B. Chad, who has never had trouble learning new languages, enjoys living amidst so many other families from his native country, and hopes to find a job soon C. Marta, who likes her new apartment but has trouble paying the rent; she has yet to understand the local festivals and traditions but likes the fact that she can live the way she was raised D. Talmud, who likes the landscape of his new country but misses much about his native land; he is eager to start dating but doesn't want to date outside of his ethnicity Answer: A 5. Who among the following is likely than the others to want to reside in and to benefit from living in an ethnic enclave in the United States? A. Ahmad, who is working hard to master English, in hopes that language proficiency will help him land a high-paying job B. Clarissa, who doubts that she'll ever master English but hopes that her difficulty won't matter too much since she doesn't plan to be in the United States for more than a couple of years C. Ella, who respects her native culture but enjoys participating in all of the local traditions and celebrations that her new friends and co-workers are introducing her to D. Rico, whose bilingual skills have helped him find steady employment and who looks forward to further success after he finishes his college degree Answer: B 6. Which of the following statements best describes the role that money plays in a smooth immigration process? A. Immigration visas are expensive for the applicants. B. Most countries blatantly discourage poor people from immigrating. C. Poor individuals and families are less likely than wealthy people to leave their native country. D. The receiving country often has financial requirements that can be challenging for moderate- or low-income families to meet. Answer: D 7. Which of the following children is more likely than the others to manifest the second-generation effect? A. Adele, whose parents' intelligence and talents were thwarted in their country of origin and whose poverty led them to drop out of school early B. Katia, whose parents' educational attainments made the immigration process and transition to the United States relatively easy for her and her family C. Mario, whose parents' wealth helped them a great deal when they went through the immigration process and afterward as they settled in Orange County, California D. Lin, whose parents' occupational success in their country of origin led to similar success in the United States Answer: A 8. Which of the following best reflects the positive impact that immigration has had on the United States? A. a greater sense of national pride B. an increase in natives' educational achievements C. an increase in natives' financial well-being and productivity D. a reduction in the likelihood of entering a war with immigrants' home countries Answer: C 9. Which of the following persons is most likely to send remittances to his or her native country? A. Carlos, who left his family in Mexico to work in Texas as a migrant farmer for a year or two B. Keiko, who was able to leave Japan and get her green card because her son is a U.S. citizen C. Mahmoud and his wife, who left Saudi Arabia and immigrated to Belgium when his business transferred him there D. Lars, who left his parents and grandparents in Finland to marry a woman in Canada Answer: A 10. What kinds of factors should be taken into account when planning the future of U.S. immigration? A. control and maintenance of our population growth B. ease of understanding and of implementing immigration regulations C. fear of undesirables, especially those who might harm the United States D. high unemployment rates climbing even higher as immigrants take jobs away from native-born citizens Answer: B Short Answer 1. What sorts of questions do sociologists ask about migration that get beyond individual motivations and the basic desire to make a better life for oneself? Answer: Sociologists assume that everyone wants a better life; thus they ask: Why does moving from one place to another make it more possible for some people to secure better lives? Why do some people who live in one place tend to migrate more than people from other places? And finally, why do people from certain places tend to migrate to specific places? The sociological approach to immigration involves considering how the decision to emigrate and the personalities but also of those bundles of forces known as social structures, including laws, policies, and consequences of immigrating are the result not only of individual motivations and customs across the social life, both economic and political, noticing gender, race, religion, language, and family dynamics. 2. What does Table 12.1 referencing the major sending and receiving countries in 2010 tell us about world migration? Answer: The table tells us that some countries are sending or receiving countries and that some are both. It reminds us to keep in mind that migration in the world is not random but rather highly patterned; that is, it has an order and particular shape, with some people and places having a greater likelihood than others of being involved in migration. 3. What is the significance of brain drain and why is it important to stem it? Answer: Many countries are rightly concerned about brain drain, the departure of well-educated and skilled citizens to other countries where they can use their skills more productively and make more money, and many have adopted a variety of strategies to discourage their most skilled younger people from leaving. Many such initiatives are aimed at improving economic growth at home in the hope that more job opportunity will improve retention rates. 4. What are the four major classes of foreign-born persons in the United States? Answer: Under current U.S. law, foreign-born persons living in the United States include (1) legal permanent residents (LPRs), also called legal immigrants, who are authorized to live and work in the country permanently but are not citizens; (2) foreign-born citizens of the United States, including naturalized citizens (LPRs who have taken the additional steps necessary to become U.S. citizens) and derivative citizens (chiefly children who acquire citizenship when their parents naturalize or who are adopted by citizen parents); (3) legal temporary residents (also called non-immigrants), who are in the United States under a variety of legal, temporary statuses; (4) and unauthorized migrants (often referred to as illegal immigrants) who are in the country without a proper visa. 5. What key facet of the immigrant experience must be understood in order to adequately understand immigrant behavior? Answer: An important insight in recent immigration research is that immigrant behavior cannot be understood without understanding immigrants' legal status in the United States and whether they have the coveted green card (the paper evidence of LPR status). Any assessment of the work and jobs of immigrants requires information about their authorization to work; understanding home ownership among immigrants requires understanding the risk of deportation they face; and understanding the children of immigrants and their behavior and choices in schools requires understanding whether they have a claim to U.S. citizenship. 6. Recount the story of the S.S. St. Louis, referencing the legislation that dictated the fate of the ship's passengers. Answer: Under the National Origins Act (1924) Jewish refugees onboard the S.S. St. Louis, fleeing from Nazi persecution, were denied refugee status visas and were turned away at the border, not only by the United States but by Cuba. Forced to return to Nazi-occupied Europe, some of the ship's passengers would later be sent to concentration camps. The 1924 act was primarily designed to limit the entry of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe into the United States, particularly Jews, Italians, and Slavs. 7. Explain the role of push and pull factors in influencing desires to migrate. Answer: Social scientists address this question by looking at the potential gains migrants envision for themselves or their families in the destination country. The expected outcome of a move depends jointly on the potential migrant's own characteristics and on the characteristics of both the origin country—including its push factors—and the destination country—including its pull factors. Push factors in the home country are those that drive people to leave; while pull factors in the receiving country are those that attract people to go there. Some of the important push factors include economic hardship or political strife in the home country. Simultaneously, pull factors include the economic and political characteristics of the receiving countries. 8. What new understanding of immigrants emerges from linking movers and stayers to the desire to move? Answer: Linking movers and stayers to the desire to move yields what economist Jacob Mincer called tied movers and tied stayers. Thus, the set of movers is diverse in that it includes both movers-at-heart (with high desire to move) and tied movers (with low desire to move). Similarly, the set of stayers is diverse in that it includes both stayers-at-heart (with low desire to move) and tied stayers (with high desire to move). 9. What kind of indicators do social scientists use to gauge how well immigrants have assimilated? Answer: Research suggests that assimilation is multifaceted. Most immigrants quickly adopt certain features of their new country while retaining some of the values and norms of their place of origin. Some indicators are obvious and include remaining in the host country (that is, not returning to their original country), learning English, and becoming a U.S. citizen. Other indicators of assimilation cover a wide range of domains and behavior involving whether and how immigrants become more like natives. These include socioeconomic status, geographic distribution, family size and household structure, intermarriage, and behavior such as smoking. 10. Explain the concept of spatial concentration and what it tells us about immigrant assimilation. Answer: Spatial concentration refers to the geographic distribution of a population. Sociologists are interested in the extent to which immigrants live in isolation from the native-born population or, by contrast, together with the native-born population. The greater the degree to which immigrants live apart from the native-born population and only near each other, the lower the degree of assimilation. In general, sociologists have found that both higher socioeconomic status and longer duration in the receiving country lead to lower spatial concentration. 11. How do sociologists access the extent to which immigrants may have help in assimilating when researching immigrant assimilation? Answer: One way to address this question is to examine new immigrants' connections to U.S. citizens. Data from the New Immigrant Survey indicate that 62 percent of new LPRs are related by blood or marriage to U.S. citizens (16 percent of new LPRs are married to native-born U.S. citizens, 18 percent are married to naturalized citizens, 12 percent are the parents of adult U.S. citizens, 10 percent are the children or children-in-law of U.S. citizens, and 6 percent are the siblings or siblings-in-law of U.S. citizens). Being related to or knowing someone who is a citizen or who is knowledgeable of the United States gives immigrants a leg up in adapting. 12. What is the relationship between limited English language proficiency and where immigrants choose to live? Answer: Humans communicate in words, and it is natural that immigrants would gravitate toward those with whom they can communicate. If they know only their native language, they have a restricted set of communication partners and limited options for finding a job, a place to live, and places to shop, eat, and go to the movies. Thus, new immigrants with limited English fluency may choose to live near kin or conational, who, besides being able to communicate with them, can impart useful information about the destination locale and can indeed join with them in a form of mutual protection society. Geographic areas that attract large numbers of persons of any single kind have come to be called ethnic enclaves. 13. How does the new LPR who has children abroad decide whether to sponsor the child for immigration or instead send financial support for him or her abroad? Answer: Parents' decisions appear to maximize their children's income and redress inequality. Recent research indicates that parents are more likely to sponsor children who are more educated and live in low-wage countries, whereas they are more likely to send money to children who are less educated and live in low-wage countries. 14. What are the effects of remittances? Answer: There is little doubt that remittances improve the daily lives of recipients. Remittances can be used to pay utility bills, send children to school, improve housing, obtain medical care, or purchase vehicles. Researchers have concluded that the overall effect of remittances on origin countries' long-run economic performance is positive. Especially for poor countries, remittances sent back provide a valuable infusion of resources that enhance living standards. 15. What would make remittances even more valuable to their recipients? Answer: Remittances would be even more valuable if the costs of sending funds were reduced. The amount sent is never the amount received; high bank fees greatly reduce the value of remittances. These fees are estimated to average 13 percent and go as high as 20 percent or in extreme cases to 25 percent. Obviously, both the sender and the recipient—and the receiving country—would be better off with less expensive mechanisms for sending funds. Essay 1. Briefly explain how societies have sought to regulate immigration and emigration throughout history. Provide as examples, where appropriate. Answer: Throughout history, many societies have sought to limit or regulate both immigration and emigration. Regulations on emigration range from absolute prohibition on people leaving (as in the communist countries of Eastern Europe during the years of the Cold War, roughly 1948– 1989), to restrictions on certain groups of people (such as Jews in Germany during the period of Nazi rule between 1933 and 1945), to enforced departure or exile (as in the case of Dante, condemned in 1302 to perpetual exile from his native Florence). The Berlin Wall—built in 1961 as a barrier between West Berlin and both East Berlin and the surrounding East German territory—is a prominent symbol of the efforts of governments to keep people from leaving. More recently, many countries have sought to limit brain drain. Groups and societies have also sought to regulate immigration. As with emigration, such regulations range from absolute prohibition (preventing anyone from entering a country) to enforced importation (as in the great slave migrations of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and the expulsion of Jews to slave and death camps throughout Europe during World War II). In between these extremes lie the elaborate regulations common today throughout the world, which reject some immigrants outright and admit others under a variety of provisions for temporary or permanent stays. For both temporary and permanent residence, there is an intricate system by which foreign-born persons become eligible for a visa—the authorizing entry document. The decision about who is entitled to a visa becomes a critical part of immigration policy. 2. Describe the two principal classes of legal permanent residents. Answer: The classes of admission to legal permanent residence (LPR) are of two main types: those that are numerically unlimited and numerically limited. A numerically unlimited LPR is granted to the spouses, minor children (under age 21), and parents of adult U.S. citizens. A numerically limited LPR is granted to three main categories of immigrants: family immigrants (comprised of adult children and siblings of U.S. citizens and the spouses and unmarried children of LPRs; employment immigrants (for jobs where not enough American workers can be located); and diversity immigrants (for winners of lottery visas designated for persons from countries underrepresented in recent immigration). 3. What are the two pathways to U.S. citizenship for foreign-born persons? Answer: In general, there are two paths to citizenship for foreign-born persons. The first is naturalization, and the second is deriving citizenship from one's parent(s). Naturalization is the process by which a person who is 18 years of age or older acquires citizenship. Eligibility for naturalization requires a period of time as an LPR, physical presence in the United States, knowledge of English, knowledge of the history and government of the United States, "good moral character," and attachment to the U.S. Constitution. When a parent becomes a U.S. citizen, children who are LPR, unmarried, under 18, and in the parent's legal and physical custody automatically become citizens; they "derive" citizenship from their parent. 4. What is the purpose of a diversity visa and why was it established? What are the requirements for obtaining them and how are persons selected to receive them? Answer: On diversity grounds, the United States grants 50,000 visas annually to nationals of underrepresented in recent years (less than 50,000 in the preceding five years). In the 1970s, as it was becoming clear that the family reunification provisions of the 1965 Immigration Act engendered increased flows of relatives of previous immigrants, a new concern arose in policymaking circles. For persons in countries without a foothold in the immigration stream, there would be little possibility of immigrating to the United States. A sense of urgency developed about opening a new channel for "independent" immigration, and at least part of the concern involved the small numbers of black immigrants from Africa. Blacks born in Africa are highly accomplished, with some of the highest average schooling and rates of English fluency among immigrant groups seeking admission. Eventually, the United States established the Diversity Visa Program, making available new visas for blacks and others from Africa. Note that there was no scarcity of black immigrants from the Caribbean; the dearth was of black immigrants from Africa. Eligibility requirements include a high school degree or equivalent, or two years of work experience (within the preceding five years) in an occupation requiring two years of training or experience. Selection is by lottery. 5. Analyse some of the pull factors that draw Mexican nationals to the United States. Answer: People from Mexico are more likely to go to the United States than to Europe not only because there are higher wages in the United States but also because the two countries share a 1,969-mile land border and a long history, with their peoples and economies connected to each other in very strong ways. Mexico and the United States are strong trade partners, too. The United States is Mexico's largest trading partner, buying more than 80 percent of Mexican exports in 2010, and Mexico is the third largest buyer of U.S. exports. The United States has many companies based in Mexico and a high degree of investment there. Thus, people in each country have many business or professional colleagues, friends, and family members in the other country. 6. Analyse the relationship between socioeconomic status of immigrants and the degree of assimilation that they exhibit. Answer: Socioeconomic status (SES) describes an individual's schooling, labor force participation, occupation, income, and homeownership. By measuring the SES of immigrants, sociologists are able to gauge the extent to which immigrants and natives are on an equal footing in the social hierarchy. If immigrants arrive poorer than natives, then the closer the SES of immigrants is to the native population, the greater the degree of assimilation. English fluency and SES are considered important indicators of the potential for social and economic incorporation. 7. What is the irony of U.S. immigration policy, which, on some levels seems so weighted in Favor of family-based immigration? Answer: The irony is that, despite the fact that family reunification is the cornerstone of U.S. immigration law, many complexities in the law often serve to divide families. The further irony is that the United States long celebrated its welcoming of the poor now makes it all but impossible for poor people to come here legally because of the financial requirements associated with immigration. Long waits for visas to become available and the difficulty of accumulating the financial resources to sponsor children can result in children losing their eligibility status to immigrate, either because they marry or age out of eligibility status. 8. What is the research interest in the second generation of foreign-born immigrants? Answer: Researchers have long been interested in what happens to the children of migration. Much attention has been paid to children born to foreign-born parents while living in a host country, the second generation. These are the golden children, U.S. citizens from birth, raised in the United States, eligible to become president of the United States, heirs to both the parental migrant energy and all the opportunities of the new country. A large research literature indicates that these quintessential second-generation children do better than their parents. They, classically, outperform their parents and outperform their third- and higher-generation counterparts. Many of the great scientific and artistic advances in the United States have been made by these second generation children. Researchers are interested in why has this has so often been the case? When immigrants come from countries where they were unable to develop their potential, so that they have lower schooling and fewer skills than they would have obtained under more favourable circumstances, it is completely natural that their children, inheriting similar potential but placed in a situation where they can develop that potential, will outperform the parents. Moreover, the children inherit at least a portion of their parents' migrant energy, and thus will outperform third- and higher-generation children of similar potential. 9. Why do children left behind in the origin country by parents who migrate to the United States merit special study? Why might the children be left behind? Answer: First, some visa categories do not provide visas for the children of new LPRs. Second, new LPRs who can bring their minor children as accompanying children may not have the financial resources necessary for bringing all of them. Third, by the time a numerically limited visa becomes available, the children may have lost eligibility for visas as accompanying family members, either because they married or because they age out. Additional questions that merit further study concern the effects of household structure and of the larger social environment on children of immigrants. These reflect views that children may suffer greatly if one or more family members is unauthorized either via mechanisms of compassion or because the family's coping strategies may significantly curtail opportunities for the non-unauthorized child. Other questions pertain to the possibly beneficial effects of native step-siblings and half-siblings. Finally, discriminatory tendencies in the larger social environment may negatively affect the child's development, either directly or by limiting parents' ability to invest in their children and nurture their cognitive and noncognitive skills. Of course, there will always be children who rise above all adversity, and indeed, use it as a force for good. But their numbers may not be large. 10. Summarize the key findings of the "White Paper" on the social and economic costs and benefits of immigration issued by George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers on June 20, 2007. Answer: After noting the difficulties in disentangling the effect of immigration from the effects of other economic forces and in projecting costs and benefits into the future, the report concluded that immigration not only helps fuel the country's economic growth but also has a positive effect on the income of native-born workers. (1) On average, U.S. citizens benefit from immigration. Immigrants tend to complement (not substitute for) natives, raising natives' productivity and income. (2) Careful studies of the long-run effects of immigration on government budgets conclude that it is likely to have a modest positive influence (on average, immigrants pay more in taxes than they receive in government benefits). (3) Skilled immigrants are likely to be especially beneficial to natives. In addition to contributions to innovation, they have a significant positive fiscal impact. For example, an astonishing 40 percent of PhD scientists working in the United States were born abroad. As the technical requirements of an increasingly high-tech economy increase, the United States is not producing enough mathematicians and scientists to fill the jobs being created by the new economy. However, America is fortunate that many highly skilled scientists, mathematicians, computer programmers, and engineers from other countries want to live and work in the United States. The presence of these workers helps keep American companies competitive in global markets and generates other jobs here. Test Bank for The Sociology Project : Introducing the Sociological Imagination Jeff Manza, Richard Arum, Lynne Haney 9780205949601, 9780205093823, 9780133792249
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