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Push And Pull Factors Of Immigration

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An estimated 11.3 million illegal immigrants lived among us in the United States of America in 2014 according to the Pew Research Center (Cohn and Passel). When we think of illegal immigration, our minds fill with pictures of famished people attempting to cross treacherous terrain; however, we never really take a good look at why they’re doing so. In many circumstances, an accumulation of push factors and pull factors—diverse elements that motivate people to move—is the reason why many make the life-changing and perilous decision to move into a new country.

Push factors are reasons that force migrants out of their own native country. These encompass a wide variety of factors ranging from violence to political instability and to an inadequate …show more content…

Some examples of pull factors are better job opportunities and more social stability. In 2009, an estimated 6.6 million illegal immigrants from Mexico had resided in the United States (Baker, Hoefer, and Rytina). Pay from jobs is an important factor, as the wage in Mexico, after taxes is $1.01 dollars per hour, roughly a sixth of what the wage in America is after taxes, $6.26 dollars per hour, in 2013 (Kane). With such a dramatic increase in wages, people from Mexico would be compelled to enter the United States of America, especially if they have a family to support, helping show why there is a large amount of illegal Mexicans in the U.S. Another factor is because the U.S. is safer when compared to Mexico. With so much drug cartel violence in Mexico, enough to kill around 164,000 in a span from 2007 to 2014 (Breslow), it definitely makes sense to migrate to a safer place, like America, even if it is done illegally. These are just the tip of the iceberg, as they give a broad overview of pull factors, limited to only the United States of …show more content…

The factors that spur them into moving are usually a combination of both push and pull factors. Some push factors include violence, political instability, and an inadequate economy found in the homeland. Some pull factors include better job opportunities and more social stability in the destination. Whatever the reason, that’s what we must consider in order to properly understand the predicaments the illegal immigrants have faced through their treacherous journey just to be in a position better than the one they were previously

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