What is migration?

Illegal immigrants on the American/Mexican border

Migration is the movement of people from one place to another.

There are many different types of migration.

• Internal migration is when people migrate within the same country or region - for example, moving from London to Plymouth.

• International migration is when people migrate from one country to another - for example, moving from Mexico to the USA.

There are two key migration terms that you need to learn:

• Emigration is when someone leaves a country.

• Immigration is when someone enters a country.

Why do people migrate?

People migrate for many different reasons. These reasons can be classified as economic, social, political or environmental:

• Economic migration may involve moving to find work or follow a particular career path.
• Social migration may involve moving somewhere for a better quality of life or to be closer to family or friends.
• If someone is a political migrant they may be moving to escape political persecution or war.
• Environmental causes of migration include natural disasters such as flooding.

Some people choose to migrate, eg someone who moves to another country to enhance their career opportunities. Some people are forced to migrate, eg someone who moves away from their home region due to war or famine.

Often those who are forced to migrate become refugees. A refugee is someone who has left his or her home and does not have a new home to go to. Often refugees do not carry many possessions with them and do not have a clear idea of where they may finally settle.

Push and pull factors are often used to explain why people migrate:

Push factors are the reasons why people leave an area, ie what pushes them away from their home. Push factors include:

• Lack of services
• Lack of safety
• High crime
• Crop failure
• Drought
• Flooding
• Poverty and war

Pull factors are the reasons why people move to a particular area, ie what pulls them to a new place. Pull factors include:

• Higher employment
• More wealth
• Better services
• Good climate
• Safer, less crime
• Political stability
• More fertile land
• Lower risk from natural hazards

Migration usually happens as a result of a combination of these factors.

Migration push and pull factors

What are the impacts of migration – economic migrants

Migration has an impact on the place that has been left behind by the migrant and also on the place that they are migrating to. These impacts can be both positive and negative. The table below shows how migration from Turkey to Germany affects the two countries

Migration between Turkey and Germany

Economic migrants – values and attitudes

When studying geographical issues it is important to consider what the views of different interest groups might be, and how this influences the decisions they make. In the case of economic migrants it is important to consider the views of a variety of people, for example:

• The migrant – How do they feel about their new life? How do they feel about leaving their family behind? How do they feel about people in their destination country who may be hostile towards them?
• The migrant's family left behind – How do they feel about it? Do they see it as a positive move? Will they be better or worse off?
• The government in the host country – What is their policy on migrants? Are they good or bad for the economy? Are they good or bad for society?
• Other workers in the host country – How do they feel about the economic migrants? What type of jobs are they taking? Is there competition for jobs? Are they helping the economy?

What are the impacts of migration – refugees

The Darfur region

Many refugees from Darfur have migrated to neighbouring Chad due to civil war in this part of Sudan. Many have also stayed behind, although they have left their villages and live in refugee camps. This has had a detrimental impact on both countries, and the refugees themselves.

Refugees in Darfur

Refugees are living in cramped and unsanitary conditions, and many have lost family members due to the conflict or from disease. Water is scarce and most rely on aid agencies for food, shelter and medicine. However the aid efforts are being hampered by the Sudanese government, meanwhile people are dying of disease, starvation and malnutrition. Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world, and the refugees from Sudan are putting a strain on already scarce resources. This makes the situation unsustainable environmentally, socially and economically.

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