Migrants and Refugees: Safety and Economic Factors

• Migrants and refugees are people who leave or are forced to leave their homes for many reasons
• They share a desire for knowing and having more

Safety Factors

• Safety factors can cause danger to individuals, driving them to migrate
• Persecution and discrimination based on nationality, race, religion, political beliefs, or group membership can prompt people to move far away
• Moving allows people to find a safer place to live with control over their lives
• Danger can be imposed formally, like war, or informally, like gang activity
• The Northern Triangle (Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador) was one of the most violent regions in the world in 2016
• All three Northern Triangle countries record thousands of crimes by local and international gangs with impunity
• Around 10% of the Northern Triangle's population has already left, and more will likely flee due to extreme violence

Economic Factors

• Economic migration, permanent or seasonal, is a common reason for migration
• People move from poorer developing areas to richer areas for higher wages and more jobs
• People from rural areas move to more competitive urban areas for more opportunities

Environmental Factors

• Migration caused by environmental factors is increasingly involuntary
• Environmental factors cause displacement, the forced movement of people by social/environmental factors
• Crop failure can cause food scarcity and a drop in agricultural jobs
• This prompts people to move to a place with better job opportunities and climate
• Pollution of water, air, and soil can create serious health risks, forcing people to seek a better life

Social Factors

• Social factors motivating migration grow from human needs and desires for a better quality of life
• Migrants move to ensure better opportunities for themselves/their family, like better schools or jobs with good benefits and career growth
• U.S. graduate programs have been a strong draw for young, talented individuals worldwide
• Some individuals migrate for services like life-saving surgery or medical treatment unavailable in their area

Illegal Migration

• Illegal migration is when people enter or stay in a country without legal permission (undocumented immigration)
• Examples of illegal migration:
  • Entering a country without inspection
  • Entering with an expired visa
  • Entering fraudulently
  • Crossing a border improperly
  • Staying after a visa expires

People leave their homes for many reasons, including safety and economic factors. Safety factors, such as persecution, discrimination, and violence, can drive people to migrate to safer places. Economic migration, both permanent and seasonal, is another common reason for migration.