1. American Immigrant Trends: Immigration Population

United States is the leader as a destination of immigration with a growing percent of 30% since 2000. Therefore, it is very important to study immigrants’ population trend in American society. A new analysis of the United States’ population conducted by U.S. Census Burea’s 2011 American Community Survey showed the key findings for U.S. immigration trend.

According to U.S. Census Burea’s 2011 American Community Survey, the total U.S. population was composed by 87% native born citizens and 13% foreign born immigrants.  In 2011, there were 40.4 million immigrants lived in United States, with 12.3 million people came from Russia, 10.8 million people came from Germany, 7.3 million people came from Saudi Arabia, 7.2 million people came from Canada… ect.

Among 50 states, 5 states were initial places for immigrants. They were California, accounted for 25% growing of total immigrants; New York, with a rate of 11% growing of total immigrants; Florida, took up 9% of total immigrants but 1% less than Texas while 4% higher than New Jersey. However, other states like Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi experienced rocket growth in immigration. Except Mississippi which immigration growing rate was below 74%, reached a population of 68, 000 immigrants; Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky and Alabama all hit a growing rate higher than 80%, of 90%、 88%、82%、82% perspectively.


The largest source for U.S. immigrants was Mexico, reached the number of 12 million Mexican immigrants in U.S., followed by 1.9 million Indians; 1.8 million Philippines and 1.7 million Chinese. Among those foreign born adults whose age above 25, more than 69% of them achieved at least high school diploma and the rate of colleague graduates reached to 27% in 2011, 3% higher than that in 2000.

However, immigration is a contributor to America economy. Based on U.S. Census Burea’s 2011 American Community Survey, the poverty of immigration rate was higher than that of native born Americans (accounted for 15%). Mexican born immigrants ranked the first poorest people at 29%, followed by 20% of Foreign born


 poverty of immigration rate

Finally, it is clear that American immigration population is still expansion with the increasing poverty rates. In other words, while the future of United States’ economy is uncertain, it seems quite clear that immigrants will play a important role in American society, isn’t it ?


2. Getting Started on American Immigration Laws


What is Immigration Law?
Immigration law which established by the federal government are the rules to determine who are allowed to enter the country on a given period of time and who are prohibited to enter without permission. Actually, the immigration law inspires people’s desire of becoming U.S. citizens.

The U.S. Congress is granted by U.S. Constitution to legislate immigration law. There are three federal agencies are responsible for immigration laws’ administration and enforcement. They are Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who investigates law violent people; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) who deals with legal immigration applications and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) whose accountability is to secure borders’ safety.

Highlights of Immigration Laws in United State

  • Naturalization Act of 1798

Passed by Congress  in 1798, clarified time scale for immigrants to become naturalized citizens in the United States

  • Page Act of 1875

The first restrictive fe federal immigration law  that forbade “undesirable” people to enter America

  • Chinese Exclusion Act

It was signed by President Chester A. Arthur  in 1882 for the purpose of prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers.

  • Immigration Act

In 1981, it was the first comprehensive immigration laws in America. Later, it became the national origin quota system in 1924.

  • Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

Increased borders security over immigration to America

  • Real ID Act

In 2005, federal government modified and set standards for state driver’s licenses or ID cards

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3. China Migration Today :　An Emerging Destination for Economic Migration


Historically, China has been a migrant sending source to developed countries such as the United States and Europe in search of jobs as well as new lives. In the past few decades, China has undergone huge changes in demography and economy. As one of the largest economic countries in the world, China is becoming a destination country for transnational migrants.

China Demographic Change in Millennium

The change of demography in China was reported by China’s 2010 census, the average annual population growth between 2000 and 2010 was 0.57 percent. Although the number of 60 plus aged people increased about 3 percent from 10.4 percent in 2000 to 13.3 percent in 2010, working aged population whose age between 15-54 declined from 0.95 percent in 2005 to 0.19 percent in 2010. What was worse, the continuous declining among people from 15 to 54 will lead to negative 0.23 percent in 2030. This declining means the China current surplus labor force will come to an end quickly by fast growing old generation.

China Economic Change in Millennium

Since the reformation of 1979, China has transformed from a planned system to a market oriented system. Nowadays, China has become the second largest economic country in the world after the United States. According to China Ministry of Commerce, in 2010, $106bn of foreign direct investment was attracted into China which increased 17.4% higher than that in 2009. Meanwhile, it was reported by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, China GDP grew on an average of 2.0 percent from 2011 to 2013, with a highest 2.5 percent in June of 2011. In the end, the continuing economic growth of China GDP expanded 2.20 percent in 2013.

Looking Forward: Is China toward a New Migration Transition? 

It is likely, due to inner labor forces shortage and Chinese working age population shrinking, China government will absorb more migrant workers to fill the gap. What’s more, the rapid economic growth in China has truly emerged as a destination country for economic migration. Therefore, is that with a base population of 1.34 billion, China could come to dominate the global migration system?


4. The “Old” Chinese Migration to USA


If not to count the ancestors of the Amerindians，the Chinese were the first Asians immigrants to enter the United States. The first groups of Chinese immigrants, who were wealthy successful merchants, skilled artisans, fishermen, hotel managers and restaurant owners, were greatly welcomed by either American public or government officials on a large scale. However, in the mid 1800’s, American became negative and hostile towards unskilled Chinese migrants who left China for America during the period of “Gold Rush”. As the expansion of unskilled Chinese migrants in America under “Gold Rush”, the first Chinatown in San Francisco was formed. Therefore, Chinatown had been the place where Chinese Americans worked and socialized.

As time passed, violence and resentment against the Chinese immigrants continued to grow in America. 88 Chinese migrants were reported murdered in the year of 1862. What were worse, much legislation such as the Naturalization Act of 1870 and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 were legalized by American government to restrict immigration of Chinese immigrants into the U.S.

After the Chinese immigrants’ population reached its peak in 1890 with 107,488 people, the Chinese population declined steadily. On one hand, the dropping numbers of Chinese immigrants were influenced by the legislation of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. On the other hand, many Chinese immigrants returned back to China because of imbalanced sex ratio and supportive money for their families in China. In fact, many of the Chinese immigrants who migrated to the United States had no intention of permanent residency in the country at this moment.

As decades passed, the situation between the Chinese immigrants and the American public as well as government improved. Chinatowns became tourist attractions and allies with the U.S. during World War II. Many Chinese children were accepted by American public schools and highly paid jobs were offered to Chinese skilled workers. Such kinds of events were positively paving the way for abolishing of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Finally, a lot of Chinese female immigrants backed to America and many couples were reunited after decades apart.

Is this helpful to expand your knowledge about China Immigration to USA?
