What is meant by Immigration and Emigration?

Categoriessocial studies By Germaine

Summary

Definitions

Source

Immigration

Immigration is “travel into a country for the purpose of permanent residence there.”

Emigration

Emigration is “departure from a place of abode, natural home, or country for life or residence elsewhere.”

Why Humans Migrate

People around the world migrate for many reasons. Migration is a global issue because it affect us and the places the migrants come from.

The reasons a person or family migrate can be sum up as either push factors and pull factors. There are many reasons, here are some.

Push factors are reason that make a family leave their country. For example, Mr. Donald has been unemployed for the the past year. He is moving his family to Trinidad where he knows he will be able to get a job to support his family.

Push factors to migrate

  1. Social – poor services, lack of education, and poor medical care.
  2. Economic – unemployment, poor pay, and hazardous working conditions,
  3. Political – persecution and war
Pull factors are reasons that attract a person a country. Mr. and Ms. Francis would migrate to Dominica because they want to experience a slower-pace in life.

Pull factors to migrate

  1. Social – plenty of food, available services, and lots of doctors,
  2. Economic – job opportunities, better quality of life, and good pay
  3. Political – democracy and freedom

Discussion

Explain in 4 to 5 sentences the difference between immigration and emigration.

Effects of Human Migration

People move into countries and bring with them their experiences, their knowledge and skills, family, culture, language, and beliefs. The receiving country therefore is gaining a lot from immigrants. The country should see its productivity increase. Unfortunately, some people tend to see migration differently. They see immigrants coming to take their jobs and opportunities. On the flip side, the country where the immigrants are leaving, see their emigrant as a loss of resources.

Look at the story below and think about Carly’s refugee story.

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Cultural Contribution of Migrants

Migrants bring with them their skills and talents. Their skills and talent contribute to the well-being of the country they live in now. Also, migrants, skilled and unskilled, accept jobs for a small salary.

Migrants bring with them their cultural values, musical skills and beliefs. They offer an opportunity for people of different backgrounds to interact and share ideas and skills.

One migrant you should consider is Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler.

Tubal Uriah Butler

Tubal Uriah Butler was born on January 21st, 1897 in Bluggo Cottage, Georgetown, Grenada. He was educated in Grenada. He served in the First World War in Egypt and Palestine. When he returned from the war, he moved to Trinidad in 1921 to work as a pipe-fitter at the Roodal Oil fields.

When he sustain an injury, he joined the Trade Union movement. He became a catalyst for change in the working conditions and better wages for many workers. Labour Day is celebrated on June 19th and his contribution in the trade union movement in Trinidad is often highlighted.

You will learn more about the contributions of migrants in the lesson on “Our Heritage”.