what are good research questions about immigration

The New Immigrant Survey is a new plan for nationally representative, longitudinal studies of immigrants and their children that promises to provide new kinds of data that will help answer many of the important questions about immigration and concomitantly shed light on basic aspects of human development. An early pilot already shows promising results.

A New Plan for Better Immigration Data

For over 20 years, successive panels assembled in both the public and private sectors -- e.g., panels of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Institutes of Health, the Rockefeller Foundation -- have agreed on the best option for remedying the immigration-data situation in order to substantially advance understanding of the socioeconomic status of immigrants and their children and the effects of immigration in the United States. The New Immigrant Survey (NIS) addresses this challenge by using the administrative records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to draw large samples from new cohorts of lawful permanent residents (LPRs -- see box above). Roughly 11,000 immigrants will be interviewed immediately after admission to permanent residence status and re-interviewed periodically thereafter; information will also be obtained about and from their spouses as well as their children, both the immigrant children they bring with them and the U.S. citizen children born to them in the United States.

NIS Content. NIS survey instruments will obtain information on a variety of topics, including health, schooling, marriage and family, skills, languages and English language skills, labor force participation, earnings, use of government services, networks, travel, and religion. In successive rounds, the instruments will track changes over time. Importantly, the NIS design will allow for comparability with other major U.S. longitudinal surveys, such as the National Longitudinal Surveys and the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, thus facilitating comparisons of immigrants and the native born. Special attention will be paid to immigrant children and the children of immigrants, including assessment of their academic abilities, skills, and achievements. As well, the instruments will seek immigrants' ideas about the migration process, including assessment of the helpfulness of various sources of information.

NIS Interview Language. A basic principle of the New Immigrant Survey is that every respondent is interviewed in the language of his or her choice; this could be English or any of the world's languages. Using immigrants' preferred languages increases response rate and data quality but also requires substantial resources for instrument translation and bilingual interviewers.

NIS Pilot. Because the NIS design, with its rather complex sampling, geographic, and language elements, had never been tried before, a pilot -- the NIS-P -- was carried out in 1996, with support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The pilot confirmed the soundness of the design, highlighted the importance of contacting sampled immigrants immediately after admission to permanent residence, and provided new information on immigrants never before available (discussed below).

First NIS Cohort

First NIS Cohort -- NIS 2003 Cohort. The first NIS cohort, not counting the pilot cohort, will be surveyed in 2003. The design calls for selection of two samples: (1) an Adult Sample consisting of 10,000 immigrants newly admitted to legal permanent residence, oversampling employment-based and diversity immigrants and undersampling spouses of U.S. citizens, and (2) a Child Sample consisting of 1,000 children in two categories which would not be found in the households of immigrants in the Adult Sample, namely, minor children of U.S. citizens and adopted orphans.

Languages in the NIS 2003 Cohort. Languages for the NIS 2003 cohort are based on the anticipated origin-country distribution along with language results from the pilot. The survey instruments will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Polish, Russian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. In addition, key concepts will be translated into seven additional languages: Arabic, Farsi, French, Gujarati, Hindi/Urdu, Serbo-Croatian, and Ukrainian. Bilingual interviewers and/or interpreters will be used for all non-English languages preferred by respondents.

Future Survey Rounds for the NIS 2003 Cohort. Plans call for periodic re-interviews, initially every year, of sampled immigrants and their children, eventually including spin-off households as the children grow up and start families of their own.

Some Findings from the NIS-Pilot FY 1996 Cohort Sample

Schooling of New Legal Immigrants. New legal immigrants, with average schooling of 12.7 years, are as well schooled as the native-born and better schooled by one year than the larger set of foreign born surveyed in the Census and CPS ( see related Source article ). The schooling distribution among new legal immigrants, however, differs from that among the native-born in that it shows concentrations among both the very highly educated as well as those with few years of schooling. At the higher end, the proportion with at least 17 years of schooling is 21 percent, exceeding substantially that among the native born, 7.7 percent. At the other extreme, the proportion with less than nine years of schooling is 20 percent among the NIS-P immigrants and only six percent among the native born.

Skill Transferability. Early analyses indicate that not all of an immigrant's skills are immediately transferable. This transferability varies by personal characteristics and increases with time in the United States. Thus, accurate assessment of a new immigrant cohort's skills requires longitudinal observation.

Preferred Language. Although less than 20 percent of the NIS-P immigrants came from a country whose official or dominant language is English, over 40 percent preferred to be interviewed in English at the baseline round. Another 31 percent preferred Spanish, and eight percent preferred Russian. Other languages preferred by NIS-P immigrants were, in order of frequency (adjusted for over/undersampling): Chinese, Vietnamese, Polish, French, Tagalog, Korean, Thai, Arabic, Gujarati, Romanian, Albanian, Bengali, Farsi, Ibo, Italian, and Portuguese. In 58 of the 111 countries represented in the NIS-P, all the immigrants preferred English, and in 22 countries all the immigrants preferred a non-English language.

Language Investment. Immigrants are investing individuals, and this trait is reflected in their knowledge of languages. While as children only slightly less than 10 percent spoke more than one language, by the time of admission to legal permanent residence, 72 percent spoke more than one language. Among the monolingual children, 12 percent spoke English, and among these children, 22 percent learned another language. Among the non-English monolingual children, 73 percent learned (at least some) English and another 3.5 percent learned another language or languages.

Use of English. There is substantial use of English among the NIS-P immigrants, with 78 percent reporting that they use English either at home or outside the home. However, only 48 percent use English both in the home and outside the home, and the proportion who speak only English either at home or outside the home is 34 percent.

Religious Preference. Approximately two-thirds of the NIS-P immigrants are Christian, substantially below the 82 percent of the native born surveyed in the General Social Survey of 1996. However, the proportion Catholic is 42 percent, almost twice as large as among the native born (22 percent). The proportion reporting themselves outside the Judeo-Christian fold is over four times larger among recent immigrants than among the native born (17 versus four percent); eight percent of the new immigrants are Muslim. And as would be expected in a country whose principles include not only the freedom to practice any religion but also the freedom to practice no religion, 15 percent of the new immigrants report no religion, a larger fraction than among the native born (12 percent).

Smoking. It is well known that there is less smoking in the United States than in many other countries around the world and that smoking in the U.S. has declined steadily from rates of 57 percent and 28 percent, among men and women, respectively, in 1955, to rates of 26 and 21 percent, respectively, in 2000. How about immigrants to the United States? How much do they smoke? Among the NIS-P immigrants, 25 percent of the men smoke, down from 53 percent who report ever smoking, and only seven percent of the women smoke, down from 20 percent who report ever smoking. Thus, immigrant men smoke slightly less than U.S. men and immigrant women substantially less than US women. Immigrant men have achieved convergence with U.S. men by dint of quitting; immigrant women have diverged from U.S. women by drastically quitting. These patterns suggest that immigrants, especially immigrant women, may be becoming even more "American" than the native born.

Afterword. It is important to remember that the foregoing results are from an early point in the immigrant career. The patterns revealed in the NIS pilot study may change over the life course, indeed, may change fairly rapidly. Only longitudinal research can tell whether these patterns will last, intensify, attenuate, or reverse. Meanwhile, other cohorts may exhibit different patterns and different trajectories over the life course. The multi-cohort, longitudinal design of the New Immigrant Survey promises to illuminate the immigrant experience.

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110 Immigration Research Paper Topics

Immigration is the process of people moving to a country and can be either voluntary or involuntary. Immigration is a very interesting aspect of education, and you may be asked at one point or another to come up with a research paper in the immigration niche.

Immigration is a broad topic, and it can be difficult to choose immigration research paper topics. Here are some broad categories of immigration.

• Voluntary migration : This refers to people who move to another country on their own accord and are not forced by the government. It could be for health reasons, lifestyle change, economic reasons, educational reasons, tax evasion, etc.
• Involuntary migration : This refers to people who are forced to move to another country because there is no other option for them. Examples include migration during a crisis, migration due to fear of persecution, etc.
• Emigration : This refers to people who decide on their own not to stay in a particular country and return home.
• Internal migration : This refers to people who move within a country for work or school purposes or simply for personal reasons, such as living closer to family members or friends.

Why Do You Need Help Choosing Immigration Research Paper Topics?  

You’re ready to write your immigration research paper, but you’re scared. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re looking for research paper topics. Why? Because there are so many things that you can write about, it can be hard to know where to start.

You’ve put a lot of thought into the topic, but you’re not sure how to start. Maybe you have a great idea but don’t know where to start writing. Or maybe you’ve already written the outline, but it’s not working out. You feel stuck.

Whatever the case may be, it’s normal to get stressed out when writing a research paper on an important topic like immigration. When you’re in this situation, it can be really helpful to have someone who can point out what works and what doesn’t work with your outline or subject matter. And that’s where we come in.

There are many benefits to getting help with your immigration paper research topics.

• Immigration research paper topics are hard to come by.

Immigration has been a hot topic for quite some time now. Since the government has been putting a heavy focus on it, there are a lot of different angles to research. This can make it difficult to find a topic that is interesting and relevant to your own life experience.

• Immigration research paper topics are often controversial.

Immigration is a very touchy subject, which means that it can be hard to find something that accurately reflects your views on the issue without being too extreme or inflammatory.

• You’ll save time.

If your research paper is due soon, you might not have enough time to do the necessary research and choose topics yourself. Seeking help out there makes your work easier and saves you from stress!

• It will be well detailed.

Other than just looking at things from your point of view, seeking help from other sources can help you get detailed in-depth approaches.

Immigration Research Paper Topics

As a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic and other global military wars, the difficulties associated with immigration are now more widely recognized in the world. Are you looking for good topics to write about for your immigration research paper? If so, the list below includes some of the top options:

• How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect immigration into the UK and the United States?
• How does immigration affect the global economy?
• What are the benefits and disadvantages of immigration?
• What are the top five benefits of being an immigrant?
• What is the relationship between immigration and crime?
• How does the cost of immigration compare with other factors that influence business?
• How do illegal immigrants affect our economy and society, and how can they be made legal?
• What are the most common reasons people apply for a U.S. visa?
• What are some of the benefits of having an immigration visa program in the U.S.?
• How many countries have a visa waiver program with the U.S. and how does it work?

Simple Immigration Essay Topics

Selecting a simple topic for an immigration essay is not always an easy thing to do. At times, it requires you to spend a lot of time doing research here and there. To save you from this stress, we have compiled the top ten simple immigration essay topics for you!

• How has immigration impacted your life?
• What are your thoughts on illegal immigration?
• How would you improve the process for naturalized citizens?
• What are some of the challenges associated with immigration?  
• Give some examples of how immigration benefits the U.S.  
• What is the motivation for immigration?
• Discuss the attitude of nativism towards immigrants.
• How has being an immigrant changed the way you think about yourself?  
• What is the greatest barrier to becoming a citizen?
• What would you say to people who believe that immigrants should not be allowed into the U.S.?

International Immigration Essay Topics

We have compiled 10 international immigration essay topics for your essay because when it comes to choosing topics about immigration internationally, you need to make sure it covers the entire world of immigration. This can often be a difficult process.

• How have international immigration policies changed over time?
• How can we increase our understanding of the diversity of the world’s cultures?
• What are some of the benefits of allowing more immigration?
• Describe the UK’s current immigration system.
• Discuss Canada’s 20th-century immigration policies.
• Talk about the EU’s current immigration problems and how they affect the terrorism rate.
• Examine the connection between immigration and Australian national identity.
• Describe Switzerland’s newest immigration law.
• Examine the effects of Muslim immigration on Britain.
• Examine the importance of gender in Irish immigration.

Best Immigration Research Topics

Do you want to come up with the best topic for your essay in your class? We also want you to be the best, so we’ve put together a list of some of the best topics on immigration that you could pick from.

• The impact of immigration on wages and employment levels
• The impact of immigration on public health and other social outcomes
• The impact of immigration on local governments and their budgets
• How immigrants help contribute to economic growth
• What are the best ways to attract immigrants to your country?
• The impact of immigration on education and health care
• What is the relationship between immigration and terrorism?
• Does immigration increase or decrease social cohesion?
• What effect immigration has on things like forests, water sources, and wildlife habitats.
• What are the best ways to encourage new immigrants to stay in their new home country?

Immigration Argumentative Essay Topics

Because you would need to compare and view the issue from all sides, choosing an argumentative immigration topics to write about could be challenging. To make your job easier, we have compiled a list of 10 argumentative immigration essay ideas for you below.

• Immigrants are taking jobs away from American citizens who deserve them.
• Should an immigrant be given a path to citizenship?
• Do you think that it is important for countries to take in refugees who are fleeing war-torn countries?
• Immigrants contribute to the growth of our economy, our culture, and our society.
• Should immigrants pay taxes?
• Should immigration from certain countries be limited based on their economic impact on the country?
• Should incentives be given to people who want to immigrate legally instead of illegally?
• Should businesses be permitted to hire foreign workers over Americans if they can’t find any eligible Americans?
• Should immigrants be allowed to stay in the country indefinitely?
• Should people be treated differently based on their immigration status?  

Controversial Immigration Topics

When we discuss contentious topics, we typically engage in debate or discussion of divergent viewpoints. Finding a topic on this can be difficult at times, but don’t worry; to relieve some of your tension, we’ve selected 10 contentious immigration topics for research paper that you can choose from or use as a reference:  

• Should gay couples be allowed to marry?
• Race and Immigration
• Ethnicity and Immigration
• Should non-citizens be able to vote?
• Is it okay for parents to get deported because they refuse to pay child support?
• Undocumented immigrants and identity theft.
• Deportation rates for undocumented immigrants
• Immigration: Illegals vs. Legal Immigrants
• The wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

Immigration Thesis Topics

Choosing a thesis topic on immigration requires extensive research because the paper needs to be outstanding and well written. Do you need a thesis for an academic degree? Here are 10 thesis immigration topics for essays that could help you.

• The historical impact of immigration on America
• The impact of immigration on the economy
• The impact of immigration on our culture and society
• Why should immigrants be allowed into the United States?
• How can we make sure that immigrants are treated fairly and humanely in America?
• Immigration is a major issue that affects Americans in many ways.
• Immigrants are less likely to commit crimes
• Immigrants do not make any significant difference in the unemployment rate of native-born Americans
• Immigrants create more jobs than they take
• Immigrants need government assistance to survive

Global Politics Immigration Paper Topics

Global politics is a large topic. So, finding suitable global political immigration topics may be a bit tiresome. Here are 10 global research topics on immigration that you can choose from!

• Immigration policies in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
• International trade and immigration policies.
• The diversity of immigrants: A look at America’s immigrant population.
• The social structure of immigrants in the Netherlands.
• Globalization and migration patterns: A case study of Australia.
• Global recessions, financial crises, and the labor market.
• Immigration policy and human rights violations
• Migration patterns around the world
• The history of immigration in the U.S.
• Political and economic implications of immigration in Europe

Illegal Immigration Research Paper Topics

Illegal immigration is a big problem for law enforcement and the national security of many countries. It also often leads to violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable people.

Would you like to investigate this for a research paper? Here are some illegal immigration topics to research that can help.

• The effects of illegal immigration on businesses
• Illegal immigration and public safety
• Illegal immigration and workplace discrimination
• The impact of illegal immigration on the American workforce
• How does illegal immigration affect the U.S?
• Should illegal immigration be legalized?
• What are some of the consequences of legalizing illegal immigrants?
• What are some benefits of legalizing illegal immigrants?
• How many people illegally immigrate to the U.S. every year?
• How are illegal immigrants treated by society?

Research Paper Topics on Immigration in America

Are you seeking a topic to write about for a research paper about immigration in America? Here are 10 excellent American immigration research paper topics for you.  

• Why America’s immigration policies are unfair and unproductive, and why we need to change them.
• Why the Mexican border is a good immigration channel
• Border security and border policy in the U.S.
• How does immigrant crime compare to native crime?
• Immigrants are more likely to have good grades than native-born Americans
• Which groups of immigrants have been most affected by the rise in deportations and why?
• Are immigrants more likely to start businesses than native-born Americans?
• Immigrants have made incredible contributions to the U.S., like Levi Strauss and Albert Einstein
• Should undocumented immigrants have health insurance coverage in the U.S.?
• The Effect of Immigration on Social Security in the U.S.

Persuasive Speech Topics About Immigration

You need to make sure the topics you choose for your persuasive speeches are compelling enough to win over your audience. Finding a topic like this could be difficult, but we have nonetheless put together a list of the top 10 persuasive immigration topics for essay from which you can choose.

• Should immigration be a human right?
• Can immigrants help economies grow and make countries better
• Why immigration is not a threat to our culture but a benefit
• We need more immigrants in this country because it’s not sustainable otherwise!
• Immigrants are an asset to any country, not a burden.
• Are most immigrants hard-working, honest, and law-abiding citizens?
• Illegal immigration is not a problem—it’s a solution to problems—like unemployment and poverty
• The U.S. needs immigrants to keep growing and stay strong in the world economy
• Are immigrants good for business and do they make great contributions to society?
• Immigrants bring in new ideas and experiences that enrich culture and nation growth.

How to Choose a Topic on Immigration

Choosing a topic for your immigration research paper is a big decision. You have to consider your audience, the content of the paper, and how much time you have to write it. Here are some tips for choosing the best immigration research paper topics.

• Know your audience.

You can’t write an immigration research paper if you don’t know who you’re writing it for! Before you start writing, sit down with the person in charge of your assignment (usually the professor) and get their feedback on what they need from you. This will help you narrow down topics that they’ll find interesting and relevant, which will make them more excited about reading your work!

• Look at what’s already out there.

You may want to try writing something new, but don’t forget about other people’s work! Go online and check out any papers written by professors on similar topics in your field. Have them give their opinions about whether or not those papers are good examples of quality work done well. If they love something else, maybe those details can help inspire yours!

• Do your research.

Do some research on current events. This is where most of the immigration news comes from, so it’s a great way to find out what’s happening in your community.

Read blogs and articles from reliable sources like newspapers or websites that focus on profiling immigrants and people who are looking for asylum.

Immigration research paper topics could be challenging to find. Sometimes they are complex and require an in-depth understanding. Here are 110 immigration research paper topics you can choose from. Sometimes, you might need help in writing your research paper. You can always outsource your research paper to a trusted writing company to help you!

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Why do people want to migrate? What influences their choice of migration destination? The EUMAGINE project addressed these questions from an innovative angle. It looked not only at the role of factors such as socio-economic status and social networks, but also at the impact of perceptions of human rights and democracy.  ‘Human rights’ is understood to include both negative (e.g. democracy, individual liberties, freedom from discrimination) and positive (a right to e.g. social security, healthcare, education) rights. Special attention was paid to the role of gender.

The core idea of the project was that macro- and meso-level discourses on human rights and democracy influence micro-level perceptions on these themes in countries of origin, which in turn influence migratory aspirations and decisions.

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Why immigrants are America’s superpower

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Wendy edelberg and wendy edelberg director - the hamilton project , senior fellow - economic studies david dollar david dollar senior fellow - foreign policy , global economy and development , john l. thornton china center.

July 3, 2023

• 26 min read

Wendy Edelberg, senior fellow and director of The Hamilton Project at Brookings, discusses the positive impact of immigration on the dynamism and fiscal sustainability of the U.S. economy. She also explains her research on the impact immigrants have on local, state, and federal finances. As a whole, immigrants are a net benefit to the U.S. economy, but based largely on immigrants’ education levels, the fiscal cost is disproportionately paid by certain state and local areas. Together with co-author Tara Watson, Edelberg proposes a way to redirect some of the federal gains to these communities, piggy-backing on existing programs.

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Wendy Edelberg, Tara Watson

December 7, 2022

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DOLLAR: Hi, I’m David Dollar, host of the Brookings trade podcast Dollar and Sense. As we celebrate America’s birthday, an important topic for discussion is immigration. My guest today is Wendy Edelberg, a senior fellow at Brookings and director of The Hamilton Project. As I see it, The Hamilton Project focuses on practical research on how to create a growing economy that benefits more Americans. Great name, by the way. I mean, Hamilton was one of our early immigrants to the United States. So, very appropriate. Welcome to the show.

EDELBERG: Thanks very much. And I very much like your description of what we do. So, it sounds right.

DOLLAR: So, immigration took a big hit during the COVID pandemic. Have we recovered now to pre-pandemic levels? Are we back to where we were? What’s the situation currently with immigration?

EDELBERG: So, frustratingly, the answer to that question is more complicated than you might think. So, first, stepping back, immigration has always been important in this country. So, historically, like on average between 1870 and 1910, approximately 15% of the population was foreign born. And that’s moved around decade by decade. But in 2021, for example, it was 13.6%. Just to give a sense of the numbers.

Okay, now, the cataclysm to immigration that was COVID. So, for example, in 2019, about 460,000 visas were issued over the course of the year. In some months in 2020, the number of offices that were issued was at times in the hundreds. That’s how much immigration just fell off a cliff in the early days of COVID.

Now it’s come back and visa issuance does look like it’s back. But what makes it complicated is first, immigration numbers come out with a huge lag, but also, census revised population statistics. And they give us updated numbers according to those revisions, but they don’t revise back. So, you can’t compare today’s estimates of the population with previous estimates of the population. So, you’ll see in the press some people have said immigration’s back, but that’s comparing apples and oranges because of this revision to the data that’s not reflected in the history.

So, my best guess, accounting for that complicated revision to history is that we’re still, insofar as immigration matters for the labor force, as much as 500,000 short of where you would have expected to be in the absence of the pandemic.

DOLLAR: Okay. So, we’re partly back?

EDELBERG: Partly back.

DOLLAR: Your assessment is we’re not all the way back?

EDELBERG: That’s right.

DOLLAR: And around that figure you mentioned around 14% of the population, that would be one in seven?

EDELBERG: Yeah, that sounds right.

DOLLAR: And I just want to be clear for our listeners, we’re talking about people who are born outside of the United States who’ve come here and are here during when census counts are made, and many of them are U.S. citizens now, and most of them are here legally. But we also, do have some undocumented workers and they would be part our best estimates of what the immigration population is in the U.S.

EDELBERG: That’s right. And I’ll go back and forth between using foreign born and immigrants to mean the same thing, which they essentially do. But someone who was born abroad but has been in this country for many decades would still be an immigrant.

DOLLAR: So, where immigrants fit into our labor market depends on their education level. So, can we characterize the average education of immigrants? I know this is a tough question because we really have an amazingly diverse group of immigrants coming from all over the world. But can we make some general points about the education level?

EDELBERG: So, immigrants are disproportionately both higher educated than the average population, but also, lower educated than the average population. It’s that they’re there’s fewer of them in the middle than would be true if they if they matched the population of what we call native born people.

So, foreign born people are most heavily represented in the population that does not have a high school diploma, for example. And consistent with that, a foreign-born workforce is disproportionately concentrated in occupations with lower average wages like the service sector. But, a third of adult immigrants in the U.S. have at least a bachelor’s degree. And in fact, the statistic is amazing, almost 20% of all of those in the U.S. with a graduate degree are foreign born. So, we have lots of people at both ends of the education spectrum.

DOLLAR: Right. So, that’s actually quite interesting. And if I could just editorialize and you can correct me, but it seems to me in some ways that might be less disruptive of our economy in a sense, the fact that we’re getting people at the low-skilled end and then we’re getting lots of people at the highly skilled end. If everybody were in the same skill class, you know, then it could have a pretty big effect on relative wages. Am I right about this or … ?

EDELBERG: Well, so, you’re right in that the system all works best for everybody when the skills of immigrants complement the skills of the native population, rather than act basically as substitutes for the skills of the native population.

So, we have a lot of evidence that when an immigrant comes in who has less education, we see the relative wages of those with more education actually go up because those are complementary sets of skills.

But conversely, when immigrants with lower education come into the United States, we see wages of similarly situated people in the U.S. who have less education, who, let’s say, only have a high school degree, we see their wages fall, or at least their relative wages fall because they they’re more substitutes.

And just drilling down one more one more point on this whole idea of substitutes. In fact, the people who see the biggest hit to their wages when immigration goes up are recent immigrants. So, when immigrants come in who have less education, the most downward pressure on wages that we see across the population are immigrants who’ve come in recently who also, have less education.

DOLLAR: That’s extremely interesting. I’m aware of some cases where you get immigrant populations in parts of the U.S. that are opposed to further immigration. It always seemed a little odd to me, but what you’re saying makes a lot of sense.

EDELBERG: This is the whole thing of pulling up the ladder, that’s the metaphor that people use. You get on board and then you pull up the ladder.

DOLLAR: Right. So, we’re not going to get into the politics of immigration.

EDELBERG: Yeah yeah yeah, but that is one of the impetuses.

DOLLAR: Yeah, but those comments you just made give us a lot of insight into why it’s controversial for certain populations and why it’s less controversial for others. Especially interesting that even if you’re highly educated and there are more highly educated people coming and you think that might create competition, I like your point that in many cases it’s complementary.

EDELBERG: The short answer is it depends. So, if you are part of a highly educated workforce that has a lot of competition from a highly educated immigrant workforce, just like we talked about for immigrants and native populations with less education, you may actually see downward wage pressure because you have immigrants coming in who are highly skilled, just like you’re highly skilled, and they are competing for jobs, the exact same jobs that you’d be competing for.

DOLLAR: Yeah, that makes sense. Now, most economists I know are enthusiastic about immigration and it’s an important part of globalization, that’s why it’s a great topic for us. And most economists are enthusiastic because it has positive effects on the growth and the dynamism of the economy. So, can you walk us through what are some of the channels through which immigration affects the macroeconomic performance—growth, fiscal sustainability, these kinds of issues?

EDELBERG: Yeah, absolutely. So, we just talked about a bunch of the distributional effects, and I’ll come back to those in a second. But now the way I’m going to take your question is that it’s really about how immigration affects the aggregate economy. So, the economy on average.

So, the first most obvious place to start is population growth and labor force growth. So, foreign born people accounted for half of the growth in the U.S. labor force between 2010 and 2018. Half. That’s a big number. And over the next decade, projections which look utterly reasonable to me by the Congressional Budget Office show that immigration will account for about three-quarters of the overall increase in the size of the population. So, over the next decade, immigration accounts for three quarters of the overall increase in the population. So, the other quarter, just to be clear, is because there are more births and deaths, but three-quarters is because of immigration.

That will get that fraction is actually going to get larger and larger over time until what is widely expected is that fertility gets low enough that, in fact, aside from immigration, we actually have net shrinking of the population. And so, immigration, more than accounts for all of the population growth within the next couple of decades. So, population growth critically important for its effect on the aggregate economy.

And generally speaking, immigrants are far more likely to work than people who are born in the U.S. They have higher labor force participation rates. So, everything I just said is even more important when it comes to the labor force. All right. So, that’s just people.

Now, let’s talk about productivity growth. And here we know we have a ton of evidence that immigration spurs productivity growth. We know that, for example, immigrants receive patents at twice the rate of the native-born population. We know that immigrants, broadly speaking, have a complementary skillset. So, they come in with different skills than the native population has. And the combination of those skills leads us all to be more productive. So, we know we have tons of evidence that that’s what happens in the aggregate. I am acutely aware that there are distributional effects and we need to be aware of that and make sure that—I’m just going to use an incredibly tired phrase—but that the winners compensate the losers, because if all we’re worried about is what happens to people’s wages, some people will feel negative effects of this, but let’s not lose sight of what happens to the aggregate economy.

DOLLAR: Wendy, I do a lot of work on the Chinese economy and certain amount on the Japanese economy as well. These are the second and third largest economies in the world after the United States, and they’re facing really serious labor force decline. Tt’s already started in Japan. Actually, the working age population has peaked in China and it’s going to start to decline. And it’s very hard to reverse that. And these are not immigration-friendly societies. They’re densely populated. So, even though the labor force is starting to decline, they have a lot of old people, they have a lot of people. And you just do not see a lot of immigration into a place like China or Japan. And so, that really affects their economic prospects. And what you were just describing about the U.S., I sometimes suspect immigration is our superpower, basically.

EDELBERG: And where do some of the best and brightest from China and India want to go? They want to come here. I mean, this is why I started with the statistics that I started with. We are a country of immigrants. And absolutely, this is one of our superpowers.

DOLLAR: But you’ve emphasized they’re also costs associated with immigration. We’ve talked a little bit about the distributional consequences, but there’s also fiscal costs. And this is the point of some of your recent research. So, can you talk us through a little bit on these fiscal costs? And as I understand your argument, a lot of these are local and, in fact, a lot of the benefits end up increasing federal tax collection. So, if you’re going to have, as you said, which is classic economists speak, you don’t have the winners compensate the losers. Probably some kind of fiscal redistribution is going to be necessary. So, tell us a little bit more about that.

EDELBERG: Yeah, I should probably apologize for that again. But. All right. So, I wrote a policy proposal with a colleague here at Brookings, Tara Watson, and what we relied on for the statistics that I’m about to describe is from a National Academy of Sciences report. And they looked very carefully at what the fiscal effects are from adding one additional immigrant into the United States. And here’s what they found. And a lot of people have looked closely at these numbers, so, they’re trustworthy.

So, at the federal level, an immigrant is said to contribute on average a little over $1,000 more in revenues than they receive in federal benefits. So, in other words, bring in an additional immigrant and the federal balance sheet looks healthier as a result of expanded immigration. Now, this is partly because immigrants pay a whole lot in taxes, and this is partly because recent immigrants actually aren’t eligible for a whole slew of federal benefits. So, immigrants are good for the federal balance sheet. Okay.

But that same report also, looked at what immigration does to state and local finances. And it found that an additional immigrant actually costs state and local governments about $2,000 more in spending that they incur at the state and local government level relative to the taxes that they receive. And this is just the story that we told for the federal government but in reverse. They get less in taxes because income taxes and sales taxes are just lower at the state level. But at the same time, most of the benefits that you get at the state and local level immigrants are eligible for. And even more importantly, their children are eligible for, because the biggest costs here are to provide education to the children of immigrants.

Now, there are lots of different ways of looking at these numbers. We can also, look at them over a 75-year like essentially life span, because when the immigrants come in, they’re typically not at their peak earnings so their peak earning years are still well ahead of them. And their children typically earn more than they do. And so, they have earnings and so, they’re going to pay tax revenues over the course of their lives. And so, you can look at what the fiscal effects are of an immigrant, not just in one particular year of snapshot, but over the 75-year period.

And there what we see is that the net fiscal benefit to the federal government is between $100,000 and $300,000. So, there’s a huge range because you have to make a whole lot of assumptions if you’re going to talk about what the net present value is over a 75-year period, but it’s clearly positive and pretty significantly large for the federal government.

At the state and local level what we find is that there’s just a small net fiscal benefit. So, it’s a couple thousand dollars. It’s trivially small, but it is positive, which is to say that despite all the expenses, particularly on education, that state and local governments have to do for immigrants and more importantly, their children, they make enough back in taxes to essentially over a lifetime pay for those expenses. But because of the timing, it takes a long time for them to earn back that money in a fiscal sense.

So, the effects on state and local governments, though, differ by the education of the immigrant. So, we can look at those same 75-year calculations and look at how they differ for state and local finances for an immigrant who comes in without a high school degree versus an immigrant who comes in with a bachelor’s degree. So, for an immigrant who comes in without a high school degree, all of the costs, all of the increases in spending that the state and local governments are going to incur for that immigrant and that immigrant’s children are going to outweigh the taxes that the state and local government can expect to get over the 75-year period. It’s going to outweigh by between $80,000 and $90,000. Which is to say, if an immigrant comes in to some area, the state and local government—the area that they’ve moved into—is going to incur a fiscal burden for an immigrant without a high school degree of between $80,000 and $90,000.

However, if the immigrant has a bachelor’s degree, it’s completely flipped. And in fact, the state and local government will is estimated to get more in taxes relative to all of the spending obligations that they incur to the tune of between $120,000 and $130,000. So, immigrant with less than high school degree net fiscal burden on state and local governments over an entire life span of between $80,000 and $90,000. Immigrant with a bachelor’s degree or more is a net fiscal benefit to state and local governments over a 75-year period between $120,000, $130,000.

So, one reason to go through all of the pain and suffering of going through these numbers is to give you a sense of why different communities may have a completely different understanding of immigration. So, communities that have disproportionately welcomed immigrants that have bachelor’s degrees may say there is nothing but fiscal upside. What the heck? Why are we having this conversation about the burden of immigration? Immigration is not a burden at all.

And that just that picture may just be completely unrecognizable to a community that is disproportionately welcoming immigrants without high school degrees, for example. And they’re experiencing pretty significant fiscal burdens at the state and local government level. And this is all regardless of what’s happening to the federal government, because the federal government’s doing great, basically, no matter what level of education the immigrants have.

DOLLAR: Right, so, what I take away from that is all of the all of the immigrants essentially have a net positive effect on our fiscal situation think thinking of a consolidated local central government together, local-federal government together. But then when you break it down by skill group and between the central and the local basically the unskilled immigrants create a fiscal burden for local government, even though if you factor in what’s happening at the federal level, it’s a net benefit for the economy.

EDELBERG: You said very nicely and this is largely because the federal government can pretty easily pick and choose what benefits it wants to allow immigrants to be eligible for.

DOLLAR: I actually love this about America, that if there’s a school kid in the school district, they’re entitled to go to public school. Doesn’t matter if they’re immigrant, doesn’t matter even if they’re in the country legally, they’re entitled to go to school. I think it’s a great thing about our system. But I can see how that could create a strain for certain local governments.

EDELBERG: Absolutely.

DOLLAR: And what that brings us to next is you have a really nice interactive tool on your website. I’m going to let you explain it. It’s basically as I look at it, it’s trying to show us where some of this local fiscal burden is particularly acute.

EDELBERG: So, what Tara and I started with was this this understanding and deep appreciation for the fact that immigration is, as we said at the beginning, one of our superpowers. It is absolutely essential for robust economic growth. It is a central aspect of the U.S. economy. And we just need to do it better. And we need to recognize that not everyone in the United States is experiencing all of the costs and enormous benefits of immigration equally.

So, we zeroed in on this population that the literature tells us creates a disproportionately large fiscal burden on state and local governments. And so, using census data, we estimated something that we call an immigration impact index, which is the share of the non-institutionalized adults in a local area that have arrived in the past five years and do not have a college degree.

And so, we did the past five years because we know that, you know, I threw in at one point that when immigrants initially come to this country, we have a lot of evidence that they are not yet at their peak earnings. They’re going to earn more over time. And so, recent immigrants are going to require more and benefits and probably pay less in taxes than immigrants who have been here for a while. And we wanted to focus on those without a college degree for all of the numbers that I went into in enormous detail.

And so, if we look at this population, we can see that nationwide the number of what we’re calling impact index immigrants is a bit less than 1% of the adult population or somewhere between two and a quarter, two and a half million people. And so, at the state level, as maybe won’t surprise you too much, the places where we see the highest proportion of these index immigrants is in Florida, Texas, California, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, like states that probably don’t surprise you.

But in some communities, like for example, in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Texas, in parts of those states, they represent 6% or more of the local adult population. So, there are some areas that where this population of recent immigrants without a college degree is like a recognizably large percentage of this population, and that local government is going to be experiencing a pretty notable fiscal burden.

But then what our tool allows you to see is how incredibly varied the preponderance of these immigrants are actually across the entire United States. So, like at the local area, there are areas near Wichita and Topeka in Kansas—

DOLLAR: —I noticed that there were a lot of communities along the Mississippi River—

EDELBERG: —Yeah, where it’s more than 2% of the population. There are counties in central Oklahoma where it’s more than 2% of the population. And there there’s like a mountain region in northern Georgia where they’re 2% of the population. So, one of the things was just to just to show readers and users of this interactive that, in fact, this is not this is not an issue that is only about California. This is not an issue that is only about New Jersey or Florida. There are counties all over the country who are welcoming these immigrants and are disproportionately bearing the fiscal burden of taking them into their communities.

DOLLAR: So, our Dollar and Sense web page, which has this interview, will connect or link to your interactive tool. So, I encourage people to look at it because I thought it was really interesting. I love that kind of thing. Last question for you, Wendy, is is there a simple, administratively easy way we could deal with this?

EDELBERG: There is a very simple and straightforward way to do this. It, of course, will cost money. But what it really means is a redistribution of the fiscal benefits of immigration from the federal government to the state and local governments. So, we size that the fiscal benefit that really should be transferred from the federal government to state and local governments should be about $2,500 per what we’ve called index immigrants, impact index immigrants. So, those who have recently arrived without a college degree. And that’s partly based on the National Academy of Sciences report, it’s partly based on looking at some other things about what we’re looking about with recent immigrants, what we’re looking at with education, knowing that we’re not incorporating the overall productivity gains of immigration.

But in any case, $2,500 we think will basically cover the fiscal burden to these state and local governments. And we want to put the majority of that through the education system. And we want to put about a third of that through the health care system. And you might say, yeah, but don’t we already give like local school districts extra money if they have to teach students English as a second language? And listeners might be shocked and horrified to know that the additional resources that a school system gets to teach English as a second language is $150 per student.

Not only is that not enough to just do the additional teaching, but we also, wanted to think about getting additional resources to the education district for all the costs that come with welcoming immigrants with less than a college degree into your community: the community resources you need to give them, the after school resources you need to give them, the ways that they’re that that these students that the students of immigrants might need additional resources from teachers to get them caught up.

There are many and varied ways that recent immigrants with less than a college degree will need more resources in an education district. And so, not only did we want to give a lot more, And so, we size at about 1,700 dollars per impact index immigrant, but we also, wanted it to be not tied to any particular type of type of cost. There are no particular requirements. It goes into the education system.

But then that district is free to spend the money as they see fit. Maybe they’re doing a spectacular job spending on these children of immigrants. But maybe then what they’re doing is they don’t have the resources left over to spend on native children. And so, we didn’t want to say, here’s money and you have to spend it in this way on this population. What we wanted to say is we recognize that there is a fiscal burden to your educational district and here is money from the federal government to redistribute some of the fiscal benefit that the federal government gets to you, education district, who is experiencing acutely the fiscal burden.

And we have a somewhat similar way of thinking about getting more resources into the health care system to provide health care benefits to these communities that are welcoming immigrants without college degrees.

DOLLAR: So, I love the administrative simplicity. Sometimes we try to do good, but it’s complicated. There’s a lot of reporting requirements, and if you can do it administratively simply, then that’s really the way to go.

EDELBERG: What’s amazing is that we actually do this for school districts in a completely different context without batting an eye. And it’s called Impact Aid. So, school districts can say we need money from the federal government because the federal government has basically created an area in our school district that has essentially reduced our tax base but added fiscal burdens to us.

So, a completely obvious example here is a military base. So, if the federal government comes along and plops a military base down in the middle of a community, that military base isn’t paying state and local taxes. But it is saying you have to educate these children who live on this military base. School districts are allowed to apply for what is called Impact Aid and say, because of federal policy you have actually imposed a fiscal burden on us without giving us the resources to be able to pay for it, so you need to give us money. We don’t bat an eye. We say that is fine because of a federal policy decision. We have created a fiscal burden on these state and local governments. We are going to transfer money to you.

So, in fact, what we say is let’s basically use that exact same system and say immigration policy has basically created a fiscal burden on state and local governments.

DOLLAR: I’m David Dollar, and I’ve been talking to my colleague Wendy Edelberg about immigration, which is we decided is America’s superpower. It’s good for the economy. It’s good for the consolidated fiscal situation of the United States. But Wendy’s research, together with colleagues, points out that a lot of the costs are borne at the local level, particularly for education and health. And she’s got a nice, simple proposal for a transfer mechanism so that we essentially redistribute some of the benefits of immigration to make sure that the costs are covered at the local level. So, thank you very much, Wendy.

EDELBERG: Thank you. It was fun talking.

DOLLAR: Thank you all for listening. We release new episodes of Dollar and Sense every other week. So, if you haven’t already, follow us wherever you get podcasts and stay tuned.

It’s made possible by support from supervising producer Kuwilileni Hauwanga; producer Fred Dews; audio engineer Gastón Reboredo; and other Brookings colleagues. Show art is by Katie Merris.

If you have questions about the show or episode suggestions, you can email us at Podcasts at Brookings dot edu. Dollar and Sense is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. Find more podcasts on our website, Brookings dot edu slash Podcasts.

Until next time, I’m David Dollar and this has been Dollar and Sense .

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Top Immigration Research Paper Topics Ideas to Choose From

Updated 30 Aug 2024

Since the topic of immigration involves more than one discipline, it's necessary to make an interdisciplinary approach to your research by focusing on history, economics, politics, environmental issues, socio-cultural issues, and healthcare aspects. As you are dealing with various countries, choosing immigration research paper topics plays a vital role in your success as one must choose the correct wording and narrow things down. You must find relevant sources, statistical data, and set the scene for your paper. It will help you to avoid plagiarism as you make statements and support your arguments correctly.

What is Immigration Research Paper?

An immigration research paper will either deal with a particular pair of countries or take a global approach. Depending on your course and research paper type, you may come up with assumptions or focus on a title that reflects certain similarities of some problem. The most important is to discuss the causes of immigration. It may range from economical reasons and armed conflicts to political persecution and forced immigration because of environmental issues. As you are writing immigration research, start with a hook sentence that represents an interesting or unusual fact. Implement statistical data, add inspiring information, and provide examples as you explore your subject.

How to Choose an Immigration Topic?

A good immigration topic is the one that inspires you and can be narrowed down to avoid touching upon every subject without proper analysis. Since immigration is a wealthy source of information, you can consider looking through political science topics to gain a better idea of the latest events or research issues in your local community by studying demographics. The majority of successful immigration research topics deal with a particular problem or a social group as it's easier to explain what immigrants are mentioned as the sample group. So, what are good research topics about immigration? The ones that provide good examples and remain relevant not only to one country but to the world, too. Take a closer look at hundreds of examples that we at the essay writing service EduBirdie have presented for you.

Top 10 Immigration Research Topics

The challenges of immigration became even more evident these days as the world is facing the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the armed conflicts that take place all over the world. As the travel restrictions are being lifted, many countries are not ready to manage the issues related to immigration.

• The impact of immigration on global economic growth.
• Climate change and its influence on patterns of global migration.
• The effectiveness of multicultural policies in immigrant integration.
• The role of international law in protecting the rights of refugees.
• The social and economic consequences of undocumented immigration.
• The influence of immigration on national identity and cultural cohesion.
• The impact of technology on immigration enforcement and border security.
• The effects of immigration on education systems in host countries.
• The relationship between immigration and public health challenges.
• The future of work: How immigration shapes labor markets worldwide.

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100 Immigration Research Paper Topics

As the problems of immigration are being researched, there are many socio-cultural and economic issues that are always at play. Before you choose your immigration subject, do your best to narrow things down and focus on sources, stats, surveys, and other types of data to support your claims. Here are some immigration topics to write about:

History of Immigration

• The Great Migration: Causes and impacts on American society.
• European colonization and its effects on indigenous populations.
• The history of Chinese immigration to the United States.
• Post-war immigration waves and their contribution to economic recovery.
• The impact of the Irish Potato Famine on global migration patterns.
• Ellis Island and its role in American immigration history.
• The forced migration of African slaves and its legacy.
• Immigration policies during the Cold War era.
• The Vietnamese boat people crisis: Responses and resettlement.
• Jewish diaspora: Historical migration patterns and impacts.
• Italian immigration to Argentina: Cultural and economic influences.
• The partition of India and Pakistan: Mass migrations and consequences.
• The Huguenots: Religious persecution and resettlement in Europe.
• Russian emigration waves post-1917 Revolution.
• The impact of the Gold Rush on global migration to California.
• British convicts in Australia: Penal transportation and its legacy.
• The migration of scientists and intellectuals during Nazi Germany.
• The influence of the Ottoman Empire's fall on Middle Eastern migration.
• Korean immigration to Japan: Historical context and modern issues.
• The Bracero Program and its impact on Mexican-American relations.

Economics of Immigration

• The economic impact of remittances in developing countries.
• Labor market effects of immigration in host countries.
• The role of immigrants in the technology sector and innovation.
• Economic integration challenges for immigrants.
• The cost-benefit analysis of refugee resettlement programs.
• Immigrant entrepreneurship and small business development.
• The impact of immigration on housing markets.
• Skilled vs. unskilled immigration: Economic implications.
• The role of immigration in addressing demographic challenges.
• Economic motivations behind immigration policies.
• The fiscal impact of immigration on public budgets.
• The effect of immigration on wage disparities.
• Brain drain vs. brain gain: Economic perspectives.
• The role of immigrants in the informal economy.
• Global talent flows and competitiveness.
• Immigration and trade relations between countries.
• The impact of agricultural migrant workers on food security.
• The economics of border security and immigration enforcement.
• Immigrant contributions to healthcare systems.
• The role of immigration in global economic crises recovery.

Politics of Immigration

• The politics of asylum and refugee policies.
• National security concerns and immigration control.
• The rise of anti-immigrant sentiment and its political implications.
• Immigration reform debates in the United States.
• The European Union's approach to the migrant crisis.
• Citizenship and naturalization policies across countries.
• The impact of immigration on electoral politics.
• International cooperation and conflict over immigration issues.
• Sanctuary cities and local vs. federal immigration policies.
• The role of international organizations in managing migration.
• Immigration detention practices and human rights concerns.
• The influence of immigration on diplomatic relations.
• Political asylum seekers: Case studies and controversies.
• The politics of language and immigration.
• Border walls and barriers: Political symbolism and effectiveness.
• The impact of Brexit on UK immigration policy.
• Immigration quotas and their political justification.
• The role of immigration in nation-building narratives.
• Xenophobia and nationalism in political discourse.
• The influence of immigrant communities on homeland politics.

Environmental Issues in Immigration

• Climate change-induced migration: Challenges and policy responses.
• Environmental degradation and forced displacement.
• The role of environmental policies in shaping migration patterns.
• Water scarcity and its impact on migration in the Middle East.
• Land grabbing and its effects on local populations and migration.
• The impact of natural disasters on population displacement.
• Sustainable development and migration: Finding the balance.
• Environmental refugees: Legal recognition and protection.
• The carbon footprint of migration: Transportation and resettlement.
• Conservation efforts and indigenous displacement.
• Urbanization and its environmental impact on immigrant communities.
• The role of environmental justice in migration debates.
• Pollution and health outcomes in immigrant neighborhoods.
• Climate adaptation strategies and migration prevention.
• The impact of agricultural practices on migration.
• Deforestation and rural-urban migration patterns.
• The environmental impacts of border security measures.
• Access to clean water and sanitation in refugee camps.
• Renewable energy projects and their influence on local migration.
• Environmental education and awareness among immigrant populations.

Socio-Cultural Issues in Immigration

• The integration and assimilation challenges faced by immigrants.
• The impact of immigration on cultural identity.
• Multiculturalism vs. melting pot: Societal approaches to diversity.
• The role of religion in immigrant communities.
• Language barriers and access to services for immigrants.
• The social networks and support systems of immigrant populations.
• Discrimination and xenophobia: Experiences of immigrants.
• The role of the media in shaping perceptions of immigrants.
• Intercultural communication challenges and opportunities.
• The impact of immigration on family structures and dynamics.
• Education disparities among immigrant children.
• The mental health challenges faced by immigrants and refugees.
• Gender roles and expectations in immigrant families.
• The preservation of cultural heritage among diaspora communities.
• Social mobility and barriers for immigrants.
• The impact of immigration on traditional arts and culture.
• Interracial marriages and mixed-heritage identities.
• The role of immigrant communities in urban renewal.
• The social inclusion of LGBTQ+ immigrants.
• The impact of deportation on families and communities.

Legal Immigration Essay Topics

As you might know, there are at least four main types of immigrants, which include citizens, residents, non-immigrants, and undocumented immigrants. Anyone who is recognized and recorded in a lawful form for permanent residence is considered a legal immigrant. Here are some good immigration topics for research paper dealing with a lawful practice:

• The impact of legal immigration on the economy of host countries.
• The challenges of integrating legal immigrants into society.
• The benefits of skilled immigration for technological advancement.
• Legal pathways for refugees: Analyzing global policies.
• The role of legal immigration in cultural diversity and enrichment.
• Family reunification policies: Balancing compassion and regulation.
• The effectiveness of point-based immigration systems.
• Legal immigrants' contributions to healthcare systems in aging populations.
• The ethics of investor immigration programs: Citizenship for sale?
• The impact of legal immigration on education systems.
• Comparing immigration policies: Canada vs. Australia.
• The legal battles of DACA recipients in the United States.
• The influence of legal immigration on urban development.
• Legal immigration and the labor market: Filling the gaps or taking jobs?
• The role of international law in protecting the rights of immigrants.
• The challenges of language and cultural integration for legal immigrants.
• The impact of legal immigration on national identity.
• Legal immigration and public opinion: Myths vs. reality.
• The process of naturalization: Barriers and facilitators.
• The future of legal immigration in a globalized world.

Illegal Immigration Research Paper Topics

The challenges of illegal immigration represent the main problem not only for law enforcement officers and the national security of the various countries but also involves frequent abuse of human rights of the most vulnerable. Consider checking criminal justice research paper topics and continue with these examples that will help you start with a specific mindset:

• The root causes of illegal immigration: A global perspective.
• The impact of illegal immigration on public services and infrastructure.
• Human trafficking and illegal immigration: Exploring the dark nexus.
• The effectiveness of border security measures in preventing illegal immigration.
• The moral and ethical dilemmas of deporting illegal immigrants.
• The role of employers in perpetuating illegal immigration.
• The psychological impact of living as an illegal immigrant.
• The consequences of illegal immigration on children and families.
• Sanctuary cities: Balancing law enforcement and humanitarian concerns.
• The relationship between illegal immigration and crime rates.
• The impact of illegal immigration on the labor market and wages.
• The challenges of addressing illegal immigration without violating human rights.
• The role of corruption and governance in facilitating illegal immigration.
• Climate change and environmental disasters as drivers of illegal immigration.
• The journey of illegal immigrants: Perils and pathways.
• The effectiveness of amnesty programs for illegal immigrants.
• The role of social networks and communities in supporting illegal immigrants.
• The impact of illegal immigration on bilateral relations between countries.
• The media's portrayal of illegal immigration and its effects on public opinion.
• The future of illegal immigration in the face of increasing global mobility.

Worldwide Immigration Topic Ideas

Starting with the idea of becoming a global citizen to various issues related to holding more than one passport, the questions about immigration for research papers often relate to issues of worldwide immigration. These are usually researched by sociologists and political sciences college students. Choosing relevant immigration research paper topics can be difficult, so if you need expert guidance, you might consider to pay someone to write my paper and ensure a well-researched and persuasive paper. Check out these helpful topics for inspiration:

• The role of international organizations in managing global migration crises.
• Comparing immigration policies: A study of different countries' approaches.
• The impact of Brexit on immigration in the UK and Europe.
• The effects of the Syrian refugee crisis on European immigration policies.
• Global trends in immigration: Causes and consequences.
• The challenges of assimilating immigrants in multicultural societies.
• The role of climate change in shaping future global migration patterns.
• The impact of global pandemics on immigration and border policies.
• International students and global migration: Trends and impacts.
• The influence of economic disparities on worldwide immigration flows.
• The ethics of brain drain: Developed vs. developing countries.
• The role of family reunification in worldwide immigration.
• The impact of international trade agreements on labor migration.
• Refugees vs. economic migrants: Legal distinctions and policy implications.
• The role of technology in facilitating or hindering global migration.
• Xenophobia and racism: The social challenges of immigration.
• The impact of global migration on urbanization and city planning.
• The role of remittances in global migration dynamics.
• International marriage and migration: Cultural and legal challenges.

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Environmental Migration Topics

One of the important factors in relation to immigration is the environment and problems that are associated with water and air pollution and the presence of chemicals in the soil. Examples would include the Balkan crisis and certain parts of Japan, Mexico, and African countries.

• Climate refugees: Legal recognition and international response.
• The impact of sea-level rise on population displacement.
• Drought and agricultural migration: Case studies from sub-Saharan Africa.
• Environmental disasters and forced migration: A global perspective.
• The role of environmental migration in urbanization trends.
• Policies for managing internal displacement due to environmental factors.
• The nexus between environmental degradation and cross-border migration.
• Sustainable development and its impact on reducing environmental migration.
• The health implications of environmental migration.
• Land degradation and rural-urban migration patterns.
• Water scarcity and its influence on migration decisions.
• The impact of environmental migration on indigenous communities.
• The role of international aid in supporting environmental migrants.
• Environmental migration and conflict: Exploring the connections.
• The economic costs and benefits of environmental migration.
• Adaptation strategies to mitigate the need for environmental migration.
• The psychological impact of environmental displacement.
• Legal frameworks for protecting the rights of environmental migrants.
• The role of environmental migration in spreading infectious diseases.
• Case study: The Pacific Islands and the threat of environmental migration.

Immigration in the U.S. Research Questions

The United States is considered the most generous country of the world in relation to immigration as it includes work permits, Green Card, and many other global initiatives that are not met elsewhere. Therefore, there are certain immigration essay topics that are related to immigration in the U.S.:

• How have U.S. immigration policies evolved over the last century?
• The impact of immigration on the U.S. economy: A comprehensive review.
• DACA and Dreamers: Future prospects and challenges.
• The role of the U.S.-Mexico border in shaping U.S. immigration policy.
• The contribution of immigrants to American innovation and entrepreneurship.
• The social integration of immigrants in the U.S.: Successes and challenges.
• The effects of U.S. immigration policies on family separation and reunification.
• The debate over sanctuary cities in the U.S.: Legal and ethical considerations.
• The impact of U.S. immigration policies on the healthcare system.
• The role of language and education in the assimilation of immigrants in the U.S.
• The influence of U.S. immigration on cultural diversity and identity.
• The challenges faced by undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
• The impact of U.S. immigration enforcement practices on communities.
• The role of the U.S. in accepting refugees: Responsibilities and challenges.
• The economic implications of restricting legal immigration to the U.S.
• The political discourse on immigration in the U.S.: Polarization and impact.
• The effects of U.S. immigration policies on international relations.
• The role of technology and surveillance in U.S. immigration control.
• The impact of U.S. immigration on the labor market and wage levels.
• The future of U.S. immigration policy: Trends and predictions.

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101 Immigration Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Immigration has been a hot-button issue in recent years, with debates raging over border security, refugee resettlement, and the economic impact of immigration. If you're tasked with writing an essay on immigration, you may be struggling to come up with a topic that is both interesting and relevant. To help you get started, we've compiled a list of 101 immigration essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing.

• The history of immigration in the United States
• The impact of immigration on American culture
• Immigration policies and their effects on immigrant communities
• The economic benefits of immigration
• The social challenges faced by immigrants
• The role of immigration in the labor market
• Immigration and crime rates
• The ethics of border enforcement
• The challenges faced by undocumented immigrants
• The impact of immigration on public health
• The experience of refugee resettlement
• The impact of immigration on education
• Immigration and the environment
• The politics of immigration reform
• The role of immigration in shaping national identity
• The impact of immigration on urban development
• Immigration and globalization
• The impact of immigration on family dynamics
• The role of immigration in the spread of disease
• The impact of immigration on social welfare programs
• Immigration and human trafficking
• The impact of immigration on rural communities
• Immigration and the criminal justice system
• The impact of immigration on housing markets
• The role of immigration in international relations
• Immigration and national security
• The impact of immigration on healthcare systems
• Immigration and labor rights
• The impact of immigration on income inequality
• The role of immigration in shaping political ideologies
• Immigration and climate change
• The impact of immigration on technology and innovation
• Immigration and economic development
• The role of immigration in addressing demographic challenges
• Immigration and social mobility
• The impact of immigration on language diversity
• Immigration and social cohesion
• The role of immigration in shaping cultural identity
• Immigration and food culture
• The impact of immigration on public transportation
• Immigration and urban planning
• The role of immigration in revitalizing declining communities
• Immigration and gentrification
• The impact of immigration on small businesses
• Immigration and entrepreneurship
• The role of immigration in addressing labor shortages
• Immigration and education disparities
• The impact of immigration on rural economies
• Immigration and agricultural production
• The role of immigration in addressing healthcare shortages
• Immigration and environmental conservation
• The impact of immigration on social services
• Immigration and income inequality
• The role of immigration in cultural exchange
• Immigration and the arts
• The impact of immigration on sports
• Immigration and media representation
• The role of immigration in shaping public opinion
• Immigration and social media
• The impact of immigration on voting patterns
• Immigration and civic engagement
• The role of immigration in community organizing
• Immigration and social justice movements
• The impact of immigration on political participation
• Immigration and activism
• The role of immigration in shaping public policy
• Immigration and civil rights
• The impact of immigration on political polarization
• Immigration and the role of government
• The role of immigration in international development
• Immigration and conflict resolution
• The impact of immigration on peacebuilding efforts
• Immigration and humanitarian aid
• The role of immigration in addressing global challenges
• Immigration and sustainable development
• The impact of immigration on human rights
• Immigration and social change
• The role of immigration in promoting diversity
• Immigration and cultural preservation
• The impact of immigration on indigenous communities
• Immigration and gender equality
• The role of immigration in addressing social inequalities
• Immigration and intergenerational mobility
• The impact of immigration on social cohesion
• Immigration and social welfare
• The role of immigration in addressing poverty
• Immigration and social justice
• The impact of immigration on human development
• Immigration and social inclusion
• The role of immigration in promoting social progress
• Immigration and social integration
• The impact of immigration on community resilience
• Immigration and disaster response
• The role of immigration in addressing humanitarian crises
• Immigration and conflict prevention
• The impact of immigration on peacebuilding
• Immigration and human security
• The role of immigration in promoting global peace
• Immigration and international cooperation
• The impact of immigration on sustainable development goals
• Immigration and the future of humanity

These are just a few examples of the many immigration essay topics you could explore in your writing. Whether you're interested in the social, economic, political, or cultural aspects of immigration, there is no shortage of compelling topics to explore. So pick a topic that resonates with you, do some research, and start writing!

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240 Immigration Essay Topics

Immigration is a permanent move to a foreign country. It takes place all over the globe, including the United States. It played an important role in history, and it continues to influence society today.

This article offers a variety of immigration essay topics. They are suitable for college-level works, as well as middle and high school papers.

But first, take a look at our custom writing company . If your task seems overwhelming, we can write an immigration essay for you!

🔝 Top 10 Immigration Topics to Write About

• ✍️ How to Choose a Topic

❓ Top 10 Immigration Research Questions

• ✈️ Legal Immigration
• 🗺️ Illegal Immigration
• 🗽 Immigration in the U.S.
• 🌐 Worldwide Immigration
• 🧳 Personal Immigration
• 🌎 Environmental Migration
• 🎓 Job and Education
• ⚖️ Immigration Pros and Cons

🔍 References

• The harm of immigration policies
• Push and pull factors of immigration
• Immigration as an escape from poverty
• Reproductive health of women immigrants
• Racism in the American housing market
• Mexican economy and the immigration rate
• Immigration increase vs. welfare decrease
• Challenges of immigrant assimilation in the US
• The cause of discrimination towards immigrants
• Immigration detention effects on mental health

✍️ How to Choose an Immigration Topic

The subject of immigration is broad. You can explore it from many points of view. Focus on economics, sociology, or the legal system. Here are a few things to remember as you chose the essay title:

• Use verified up-to-date information. As simple as it seems, it’s essential.
• Do not judge. We cannot know the life story of every immigrant and what they went through.

You may try to approach the subject from the political viewpoint. Or, try to stand in the shoes of someone looking for a better life.

Below you will find many great questions and topics on immigration. Choose the one you like best, and get down to writing!

• Do expats boost innovations?
• Is terrorism related to immigration?
• How does migration influence culture?
• What is seasonal labor immigration?
• Can immigration reduce global poverty?
• What is the economic effect of refugees?
• How does immigration affect social capital?
• How do immigration control measures vary?
• Is Third World immigration a threat to the US?
• Why do immigration laws differ among the states?

✈️ Legal Immigration Essay Topics

• Pros and cons of sanctuary cities
• Modern immigration policy in the UK
• ICE’s policy under Obama vs. Trump
• The process of naturalization in the US
• The importance of the DACA program
• Should the TPS program be permanent?
• Health concerns of illegal immigration
• The effect of immigration on international students
• The difference between an asylum and refugee status
• The Second Industrial Revolution’s impact on immigration
• The role of visas in the modern world.
• Does federal immigration law ensure safety for the U.S. citizens?
• Changes in immigration policies following 9/11.
• What will happen if the U.S. declares open borders for all countries?
• How is multiculturalism a good thing?
• How much time does it take to complete immigration documents?
• What rights do immigrants have in the U.S.?
• Does congress limit the number of immigrant visas?
• What are the main functions of immigration?
• Why does the U.S. refuse to accept Syrian refugees?
• The majority of immigrants seek to receive the U.S. citizenship.
• Fake marriage for the sake of legal immigration.
• How can immigrants ensure a legal status for their children?
• Why do people applying for U.S. citizenship have to live in America for five years?
• What’s the difference between naturalization and citizenship?
• Is it fair that children can have citizenship by being born in the U.S.
• What does the government look for in a person before granting them legal status?
• Ways to pass the test for naturalization for a person with disabilities.
• How can children become the U.S. citizens through their parents?
• What are the physical presence requirements for naturalization?
• Steps necessary to prepare for a naturalization test.
• How to reapply for citizenship.
• What is a naturalization ceremony?
• Can a person become a citizen through military service?
• Do all visas allow legal immigration?

The immigration process should be legal. There is an “Immigration Law” in the U.S. that provides legitimate ways to become an American citizen. In this section, you will find ideas for your research paper or informative essay on legal immigration.

🗺️ Illegal Immigration Essay Topics

According to Washington State Department of Social and Health Services , the main difference between legal and illegal immigration lies in documentation. That’s why illegal immigrants are also called undocumented. The following list can provide an idea for a topic sentence or a thesis statement in a persuasive essay.

• Can there be any valid excuse for immigrating illegally?
• Do undocumented aliens harm the U.S.?
• The overstaying legal migration period is common for illegal immigration.
• What is more valuable for the government: paperwork or people?
• Which countries do most undocumented immigrants come from?
• Human trafficking is a tragedy that feeds illegal immigration.
• Settled undocumented immigrants should still get punished.
• The presence of undocumented immigrants indicates corruption.
• Do illegal immigrants affect the local economy of southern states?
• Does illegal immigration bring American society out of balance?
• The presence of undocumented aliens affects crime rates.
• The issues associated with illegal immigration in America.
• What organizations support illegal immigration?
• Children of immigrants bear the consequences of their parents’ actions.
• Should undocumented immigrants be provided legal help?
• The term “illegal immigrant” must be rejected as offensive.
• Does the problem of illegal immigration feed the issue of racism?
• Undocumented immigrants deserve to be treated with respect.
• The term “illegal immigrant” stirs up racial fear in the U.S.
• Does the phrase “No human is illegal” have any truth to it?
• Is illegal immigration a threat to hosts and immigrants?
• Are undocumented aliens treated with hostility by the government?
• Can illegal immigration for personal reasons be justified?
• Should we consider the absence of proper documentation an offense?
• Do the lives of illegal immigrants matter in America?
• Can an undocumented immigrant be considered an American?
• Does the “Drop the I-word” campaign provide valid arguments?
• Is there anything good about illegal immigration?
• Immigration detention brings more harm than good.
• Should the “catch and release” policy function in the U.S.?
• Should a person take a chance to obtain a legal status by entering the country illegally?
• Will the construction of a wall resolve the issue of illegal immigration?
• If America is the land of opportunities , why doesn’t it accept undocumented aliens?
• Does illegal immigration promote terrorism?
• Should the U.S. government introduce specific policies for elderly immigrants?

🗽 Immigration in the U.S. Topics

Millions of people worldwide want to get a taste of the American Dream. After many decades, America is shaped by the immigrant presence. Think about the cultural components and history of immigration in the U.S. This list may provide you with ideas for thesis topics.

• Should immigrants be allowed to vote?
• Can aliens who received U.S. citizenship be called Americans?
• Should Americans be concerned about the “green card lottery?”
• Mexican immigration as a political controversy.
• Difference between citizenship and a green card.
• The immigrants are fulfilling the labor market demand in the U.S.
• Professional psychologists must cooperate with immigrants.
• Children born to undocumented aliens should receive U.S. citizenship.
• Should there be a mandatory English language test for all immigrants?
• Should resident aliens use international driver licenses in the U.S.?
• Does the U.S. immigration policy need reform?
• From a historical perspective, could the U.S. survive as a country without immigrants?
• Immigration is at the core of American history.
• What were the reasons for the migration wave in the 1960s?
• Homeland security and immigration policy in the U.S.
• How did the 18th-century Chinese emigration influence America?
• The U.S. language policy regarding immigration.
• The 9/11 tragedy changed the way Americans view foreigners.
• Should children of illegal aliens be denied U.S. citizenship?
• How does immigration change life in bigger cities in the U.S.?
• Benefits of the DREAM act.
• Do legal aliens affect the American education system?
• Can a child raised by immigrants in the U.S. be called an American?
• Do Americans move to other countries?
• Immigrants come to the U.S. for religious purposes.

🌐 Worldwide Immigration Topics

History proves that people have always been moving around. Sometimes they immigrate because “the grass is greener on the other side.” But some have to flee their countries as refugees. The U.S and the European Union are receiving large numbers of immigrants. Here are some topic ideas for a paper on immigration worldwide.

• Was border control possible before the invention of visas?
• Syrian children refugees in Canada and ethics of care.
• What benefits does a country receive by granting someone asylum status?
• Can asylees feel safe in their host country?
• What is the difference between the words “immigrant” and “refugee?”
• Refugees need psychological assistance to overcome stress.
• Most refugees hope to come back to their home countries.
• What attitude locals usually have towards emigrants?
• There is a substantial prejudice against immigrants and refugees.
• Should the government invest in education for displaced people?
• The refugee crisis is a growing global issue.
• Assimilation policy as a form of aborigenal control in Australia.
• Wars have been one of the primary reasons for migration throughout history.
• How did 9/11 affect international traveling and global immigration?
• What happens to people who are rejected by the border control service?
• The impact of globalization on immigration control.
• Does Europe benefit or suffer from immigrants?
• The effects high numbers of refugees have on the European economy.
• Does the tourism industry in Europe suffer from the refugee presence?
• Effect of immigration on European history.
• Influence of globalization citizenship in the EU.
• What are the benefits of the asylum status in Europe?
• The effect of the Cold War on global immigration.
• Do most of the refugees in Europe want to receive EU citizenship?
• Does immigration rate vary amongst men and women?

🧳 Personal Immigration Topics

There is a person behind each number on immigration statistics. You may be wondering why somebody would want to leave home. Immigration is a serious step that forever changes one’s life. If you would like to look at the heart of immigration, this section is for you.

• Should immigration be perceived as an act of courage?
• Can the elderly have a better retirement in other countries?
• Religious persecution as a reason for moving.
• People often immigrate to provide a better life for their children.
• Racial persecution is a valid reason for moving abroad.
• The decision to relocate should have a solid reason behind it.
• Refugee families suffer enormous emotional pressure.
• Health problems are a sufficient reason for immigration.
• Immigration as a way to provide for one’s family is a noble act.
• Parent’s love for their children can motivate them to move abroad.
• Immigrant children and the governmental responsibility.
• People shouldn’t judge the financial instability of refugees.
• Disagreement with the country’s politics can push citizens to move.
• Are certain personality types more likely to immigrate?
• The lack of a sustainable education system in a home country pushes young people to move abroad.
• For some, the only hope for a good life is in immigration.
• Relocation for romantic reasons is common in the modern world.
• Experiences of Lithuanian and Chinese immigrants in America.
• Can relational complications drive people out of their native countries?
• An urge to be free from oppression leads to immigration.
• Loss of a family member can force a person to move abroad.
• Some choose immigration as a way to escape financial responsibility.
• Because of the internet, some people identify with foreign cultures.
• Immigration is a way to change one’s life.
• Athletes choose to relocate to have better conditions for training.

🌎 Environmental Migration Topics

You can define migration as the movement from one place to another. It can happen within or outside country borders. Migration isn’t always permanent. Nature is full of surprises, and sometimes natural disasters occur. Some people don’t have other options but to migrate. This section includes a variety of topics on environmental migration.

• Climate change is a significant reason for migration.
• Should environmental migrants receive a refugee status?
• Countries with significant environmental problems should encourage immigration.
• How many people choose to migrate due to ecological issues?
• Should the border control require documentation from environmental refugees?
• For how long environmental migrants are allowed to stay in the host country?
• Do climate refugees receive support from their host countries?
• Describe the Haitian migration following the 2010 earthquake.
• Migration after the tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004 .
• Chinese citizens migrate due to floods .
• Do Americans move to different states because of ecological issues?
• Documented cases of mass environmental migration throughout history.
• The role of sea-level rise in climate migration.
• How polluted oceans affect human population movement.
• What are the main factors of environmental migration?
• Does the global warming influence migration levels?
• Is the number of climate refugees likely to increase in the future?
• How often do environmental migrants become legal immigrants?
• How can those who have lost their possessions afford to move abroad?
• Which countries receive the most climate migrants?
• Is the status of “environmental refugee” legitimate?
• Do environmental migrants consider going back to their home countries?
• Which organizations provide help to climate migrants worldwide?
• From which countries do people flee the most due to ecological reasons?
• People migrate due to the lack of clean water .

🎓 Immigration Essay Topics: Job and Education

Not all countries have a reliable education system. Sometimes there are not enough resources to provide jobs for everyone. Immigration gives people a chance to pursue a better career path. The following list can inspire your immigration thesis topic.

• Should international students be encouraged to return after graduation?
• Can online job opportunities decrease immigration rates?
• High-quality education in the U.S. attracts immigrants.
• What steps must one take to receive a work visa?
• Religious missionaries should receive governmental support.
• How often do people move to a different country for educational reasons?
• Immigrants in Toronto: social and economic challenges.
• How do institutions check the language abilities of international students ?
• Do all U.S. institutions receive international students?
• What does it take to receive a student visa?
• Cross-cultural management and work abroad.
• Can immigrants find jobs without knowing the local language?
• What are the primary countries people immigrating to for occupational purposes?
• Which countries people are most likely to leave to receive a better education?
• Is America the land of opportunities for immigrants?
• Is it economically sufficient for the U.S. to receive workers from other countries?
• Why are international students willing to pay a high price for education in the U.S.?
• The industrial revolution caused a wave of immigration.
• Some people move to less developed countries to help with their development.
• Poverty often pushes people to move abroad.
• Immigrants from developing countries aren’t picky when it comes to jobs.
• Do immigrants regret moving to the U.S. if they’re faced with discrimination?
• What’s the average age of international students that are coming to the U.S.?
• Health of expatriates often worsens due to the nature of their jobs.
• Examples from history of people seeking education abroad.

⚖️ Pros and Cons of Immigration: Essay Ideas

There are two sides to the immigration: positive and negative. Think about the economy, food, art, sociology, and politics. Decide what are the benefits and downsides of immigration. The following list of topic ideas on migration will help you with this task.

• International employees fill the gaps in the workforce.
• Foreigners bring a unique perspective that can benefit the host country.
• Some expatriates possess rare skills that can be useful.
• Cuisine of immigrants often becomes popular in the host country.
• International students add numbers to struggling institutions.
• Talented immigrants find themselves useful in a host country.
• Foreigners improve international trade and business.
• International employees are often enthusiastic about their job position.
• Foreigners have an unusual view on life.
• Immigration brings cultural diversity to the host country.
• Foreign presence pushes host countries towards ethnic inclusiveness.
• Immigrants are more willing to take less prestigious jobs.
• People from abroad bring their mentality everywhere they go.
• Children of immigrants can have better opportunities in life.
• The money earned by foreigners in the host country is spent in their home countries.
• Immigration is a channel for the drug industry.
• Immigration gives hope for a brighter future.
• In some cases, aliens take job opportunities from the locals.
• Immigrants tend to increase the crime rate of the hosting country.
• Home countries of immigrants suffer from “brain drain.”
• Foreigners are subject to racial intolerance.
• Immigration causes overcrowding.
• The language barrier creates social complications.
• Immigration takes away the attention of the government.
• Resident aliens might suffer from strained relationships with locals.

We hope this article helped you to choose the topic for your essay. In conclusion, we want to wish you good luck with your assignment!

You might also be interested in:

• 560 Unique Controversial Topics & Tips for a Great Essay
• Canadian Identity Essay: 20 Essay Topics and Writing Guide
• 147 Social Studies Topics for Your Research Project
• 480 Sociology Questions & Topics with Bonus Tips
• 240 Unique Geography and Geology Topics & Questions
• Immigration: Encyclopedia Britannica
• Population Reference Bureau: Trends in Migration to the U.S.
• Myths and Facts about Immigrants and Immigration: Anti Defamation League
• Resident Alien Definition: Investopedia
• Nonresident Aliens: Internal Revenue Service
• Immigration: Cornell Law School
• Citizenship Through Naturalization: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
• A Dozen Facts about Immigration: Brookings.edu
• Environmental Displacement and Migration: Environmental Law Institute
• Immigration: ProCon.org
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• Around the World, More Say Immigrants Are a Strength Than a Burden

Publics divided on immigrants’ willingness to adopt host country’s customs

Table of contents.

• Acknowledgments
• Methodology
• Appendix A: References
• Appendix B: Demographic tables

Majorities of publics in top migrant destination countries say immigrants strengthen their countries, according to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey of 18 countries that host half of the world’s migrants.

In 10 of the countries surveyed, majorities view immigrants as a strength rather than a burden. Among them are some of the largest migrant receiving countries in the world: the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Australia (each hosting more than 7 million immigrants in 2017).

By contrast, majorities in five countries surveyed – Hungary, Greece, South Africa, Russia and Israel – see immigrants as a burden to their countries. With the exception of Russia, these countries each have fewer than 5 million immigrants.

Meanwhile, public opinion on the impact of immigrants is divided in the Netherlands. In Italy and Poland, more say immigrants are a burden, while substantial shares in these countries do not lean one way or the other (31% and 20% respectively).

Countries surveyed hold half of the world’s migrants

The 18 nations surveyed contain more than half (51%) of the world’s migrant population, or some 127 million people, according to United Nations and U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

Countries with some of the world’s largest immigrant populations were surveyed, including more traditional destinations like the United States, Canada and Australia that have seen waves of immigrants arrive since at least the 19th century . Also surveyed were more recent destination countries in the European Union such as Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Greece, all of which experienced immigration waves after World War II .

Japan and Israel were also surveyed. Japan is making efforts to attract more migrants due to its aging population. Israel has been a destination for immigrants since it enacted its 1950 Law of Return for Jewish people worldwide. Russia was surveyed since it has one of the world’s largest foreign-born populations. At the same time, South Africa continues to be a top destination country for many Africans.

Also included in the survey were some newer destinations. Mexico, for example, has become an increasingly important destination and transit country for migrants fleeing violence from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Similarly, Hungary became an important transit country for migrants entering Europe during the refugee surge that peaked in 2015. And although Poland for many years was a country of emigration, it has seen a recent wave of immigrants from Eastern Europe .

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are top immigrant destinations that were not surveyed. Pew Research Center does not have a history of conducting surveys in these countries.

In the U.S., the nation with the world’s largest number of immigrants , six-in-ten adults (59%) say immigrants make the country stronger because of their work and talents, while one-third (34%) say immigrants are a burden because they take jobs and social benefits. Views about immigrants have shifted in the U.S. since the 1990s, when most Americans said immigrants were a burden to the country.

Meanwhile, in six European Union countries surveyed, public opinion about the impact of immigrants has changed since 2014. That was the last time the Center asked European publics this question. It was also before hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers arrived on Europe’s shores in 2015. In Greece, Germany and Italy, three countries that experienced high volumes of arrivals, the share of adults saying immigrants make their countries stronger dropped significantly.

By contrast, public opinion shifted in the opposite direction in France, the UK and Spain, countries surveyed that received fewer asylum seekers in 2015. In all three countries in 2018, majorities said immigrants made their countries stronger, up from about half who said the same in 2014. 1

While majorities in many of the 18 countries surveyed see immigrants as a strength, this opinion is not equally shared across all groups within countries. In most countries surveyed, those on the left of the ideological spectrum are more positive about immigration’s impact on their country than those on the right. Similarly, in many countries surveyed, those with higher levels of education, younger adults, and those with higher incomes are more likely to say immigrants make their countries stronger because of their work and talents. (See Appendix B for group breakdowns .)

Also, in all countries surveyed, those saying they want fewer immigrants arriving in their countries are less likely to view immigrants as making their countries stronger.

Publics split on immigrants’ willingness to adopt their societies’ customs and way of life

Attitudes are mixed on immigrants’ willingness to adopt the destination country’s customs or wanting to be distinct from its society. A median of 49% among countries surveyed say immigrants want to be distinct from the host country’s society, while a median of 45% say immigrants want to adopt the host country’s customs and way of life.

In six destination countries – Japan, Mexico, South Africa, the U.S., France and Sweden – publics are more likely to say immigrants want to adopt the host country’s customs and way of life than say immigrants want to be distinct.

Japan is an outlier: A large majority of the public (75%) says immigrants want to adopt the country’s customs and way of life. This country, whose aging population and low birth rate make immigration relevant for its population growth, has recently changed its policies to attract more foreigners. Views about immigrant integration in Japan could be linked to the low number of immigrants the country hosts and that many immigrants in Japan are ethnically Japanese .

By contrast, in eight destination countries – Hungary, Russia, Greece, Italy, Germany, Poland, Israel and Australia – more people say immigrants want to be distinct than say they are willing to adopt the host country’s customs. Majorities hold this view in Hungary, Russia, Greece, Italy and Germany. In addition, sizable shares of people in most of these countries refused to choose one option or the other when asked this question.

In many countries surveyed, younger adults, those with higher levels of education and those on the left of the political spectrum are generally more likely to say immigrants are adopting the country’s customs and way of life (see Appendix B for group breakdowns ).

Publics are less concerned about immigrant crime than the risk they pose for terrorism

In recent years, security concerns about immigration have become part of the public debate in many countries. Some of these concerns are about crime and immigration, while others are about terrorism and immigration.

Immigrants and crime

In several immigrant destination countries, large majorities say immigrants are not more to blame for crime than other groups. This is the case in Canada, the U.S., France and the UK. Among other countries surveyed, only in South Africa, Sweden and Greece do majorities believe that immigrants are more to blame for crime than other groups.

In the Netherlands, Japan, Israel and Germany, opinions are split on the impact of immigrants on crime. In four other countries where views were mixed, substantial shares refused to choose either of the two statements offered – Italy (26%), Hungary (17%), Poland (15%) and Russia (14%).

In countries where majorities see immigrants as a strength, majorities also tend to say immigrants are not more to blame for crime. Notable exceptions are Germany and Sweden, where majorities say that immigrants strengthen their countries, but pluralities of adults say that immigrants carry more responsibility for crime.

Immigrants and terrorism

Publics across top migrant destination countries are split on whether or not immigrants increase the risk of terrorism in their countries.

In six countries, majorities believe immigrants do not increase the risk of terrorism in the host country. These include all surveyed countries in North America (Mexico, Canada and the U.S.), as well as South Africa and Japan. Publics in France and Spain, two European countries that were not at the center of the 2015 refugee crisis, also hold this view.

By contrast, majorities in seven European nations – Hungary, Greece, Italy, Sweden, Russia, Germany and the Netherlands – believe immigrants increase the risk of terrorism in their countries.

Views on the topic are divided in the UK, Australia and Israel. In Poland, half (52%) of the public says immigrants increase the risk of terrorism, while 28% say they do not increase the risk of terrorism. But a substantial share in Poland (19%) also refused to respond one way or the other.

CORRECTION (May 2, 2019): The original data for South Africa was incorrect in the chart, “Majorities in many European migrant destinations think immigrants increase risk of terrorism.” These numbers have been switched to correctly show that 32% of South Africans say immigrants do not increase the risk of terrorism and 62% say immigrants increase the risk of terrorism.

Majorities in many countries think immigrants in the country illegally should be deported

Majorities in most immigrant destination countries surveyed support the deportation of people who are in their countries illegally.

In seven of the 10 EU countries surveyed, majorities support the deportation of immigrants living in their country illegally. In 2007, between 1.7 million and 3.2 million unauthorized, or irregular, migrants were estimated to be living in the 10 EU countries surveyed. The number of asylum seeker applications has increased following the 2015 refugee surge. Since then, the number of rejected asylum applications has increased substantially. Many of these rejected asylum seekers may continue to reside illegally in Europe.

Similarly, majorities in Russia, South Africa, Australia and Japan also support deporting immigrants living in those countries illegally.

In the U.S., public opinion is divided on the issue. About half (46%) of the public supports deporting immigrants residing there illegally, while the other half (47%) opposes their deportation. 2 The Center estimates 10.7 million unauthorized immigrants lived in the U.S. in 2016, which represented less than a quarter (23.7%) of the U.S. immigrant population. The number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. has been falling since 2007 and is now at levels last seen in 2004.

In Mexico, fewer than half (43%) say they support the deportation of immigrants living there illegally. In recent years, Mexico has experienced an increasing number of migrants entering the country without authorization from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Mexico has historically been a migrant-sending country: About 12 million people born in Mexico live outside the country, nearly all in the U.S. Among those in the U.S., nearly half are unauthorized immigrants.

In most countries surveyed, those on the right of the ideological spectrum are more likely to support deportation. Similarly, older people in several countries surveyed are more likely to support the deportation of immigrants living illegally in their countries (See Appendix B ).

Immigrants are foreign-born individuals living outside their country of birth, regardless of their citizenship. Refugees and asylum seekers are a subgroup within this broader population. The terms “immigrants” and “migrants” are used interchangeably in this report.

The terms “ asylum seekers ,” “ asylum applicants ” and “ refugees ”  are used interchangeably throughout this report and refer to individuals who have applied for asylum. Seeking asylum does not mean applicants will necessarily be permitted to stay in the country where they have submitted an application.

“ European Union ” in this report refers to the 28 nation-states that form the European Union (EU). At the time of the Pew Research Center’s Spring 2018 global survey, the UK was still part of the European Union.

• The survey question was not asked in other countries in 2014. ↩
• When the Center asked about this issue in the U.S. in a different way, a significantly lower share – 20% – said “undocumented immigrants should not be allowed to stay in the country legally,” while a large majority (79%) said “there should be a way for them to stay in the country legally, if certain requirements are met.” ↩

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HIS 200 - Applied History

Irish immigration in the united states.

Irish Immigration is a broad topic! As you start your research, think about what specific area of the broader topic you could focus on for your project. Once you have a more specific idea identified, it can be helpful to write a research question that will then serve as your foundation for further research. You can check out the Shapiro Library FAQs on  writing research questions  for more information.

Linked below is an encyclopedia article This link opens in a new window that can give you a bit of background information about Irish Immigration. As an encyclopedia article, the research starter is a tertiary source, like other background/reference sources. It can be a useful tool to give yourself some background knowledge on your topic and help you decide how you would like to focus your research and which keywords might be helpful. Generally speaking, tertiary sources aren't acceptable sources to use in your papers because they summarize and condense information about a topic. The original research and primary sources reference sources that are discussed and cited within the source can be a good place to start.

Take a look at the Primary Sources and Secondary Sources pages for some recommendations for library databases to further research this topic!

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Christopher Rufo

The Real Questions of the Immigration Debate

Recent migrant scandals force us to consider who, how, and how much..

Political campaigns are symbolic ventures, designed to drive attention to certain issues and to marshal facts, language, and emotion to deliver a material advantage. From Cicero’s campaign for the consulship to Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s campaigns for the presidency, it has always been thus.

This is a useful lens through which to view the current immigration debate. For several weeks, two migrant-related stories have dominated national attention: Venezuelan gang members apparently seizing apartments in Aurora, Colorado, and tensions resulting from large-scale Haitian migration in Springfield, Ohio. Beneath the surface of their rhetorical heat, the controversies point to three key questions of immigration policy: who, how, and how much.

Let’s first clear away some misconceptions. Both Trump and Harris’s stated views on immigration—which may not, of course, reflect their actual views—are more nuanced than commonly portrayed. In 2021, Harris warned illegal migrants that “if you come to our border, you will be turned back,” acknowledging, at least rhetorically, that Americans have the right to decide who enters the country. Likewise, Trump, despite his restrictionist reputation, often interleaves calls to “build the wall” with appeals to build a “big, beautiful door.” In other words, between the candidates, the questions of who, how, and how much are ordinal, rather than categorical.

The first and most controversial of those questions is “who.” Progressives believe that human beings are interchangeable, and that all differences are socially constructed and ultimately arbitrary. At first glance, this position seems grounded in the theory of natural right encapsulated in the Declaration of Independence’s famous phrase, “all men are created equal.”

But this ignores a critical distinction. Yes, all men are born equal—that is, they are all born with the same human fundamentals—but this does not imply that all cultures, or civilizations, are equal. Culture is the product of tradition, not unmediated nature. Among the principles that cultures adopt and inculcate in their members, some are better, others are worse; some are compatible with America’s traditions, some are not. For American immigration policy, this means that the “who” matters.

The question of “who” has historically involved considering migrants’ national origin. A more refined approach would include other characteristics, such as educational attainment, employment history, language skills, and cultural values. The United States, which has an interest in admitting immigrants capable of integration and economic productivity, is well within its rights to prefer, say, an English-speaking software developer from Venezuela over a violent, uneducated gang member from the same country.

On the same principle, we must acknowledge that immigrants from some cultures are more capable than others of assimilating to America. In much of the Muslim world, for example, majorities believe that honor killings are justified and that Sharia law ought to be enforced by the state. While many Muslim immigrants embrace Western values, some emphatically reject them, as demonstrated by the widespread pro-Hamas protests that have broken out in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre in Israel. Pluralism is valuable, but it has limits, and America ought to select newcomers who share its core values.

The next question is “how.” The answer is not to be found at our southern border today, which has become an anarchic, free-for-all zone. While there will always be some degree of undocumented migration—the United States is, after all, still the land of opportunity—the numbers we have seen in recent years are unprecedented. Americans have the right to insist on a rational, orderly process of immigration, with clearly defined standards and a carefully crafted selection process.

The final question is “how much.” To answer, one must consider not only the sheer number of immigrants but also the amount of migration-driven demographic change occurring over time. Both the absolute size and pace of recent migration give reason for America to be more cautious in the current moment, despite our unique ability to assimilate newcomers. Both that scale and speed of recent migration—some 8 million new arrivals since Joe Biden’s presidency began—is putting enormous pressure on each level of government. Localities have struggled to meet surging demand for housing, medical care, and education, particularly given the proportion of migrants with limited earning potential and English language proficiency.

The debate in Springfield, Ohio, is relevant here. There is a material difference between assimilating 150 Haitian migrants and 15,000 Haitian migrants into the fabric of a small town. The former is easily done; the second represents a transformative challenge. And for towns like Springfield, accommodating these newcomers is made harder by progressive ideology, which discourages integration into the national culture and claims that assimilation is a form of racism, colonialism, and xenophobia. As the Left reorients our institutions away from assimilation and toward multiculturalism, our capacity to integrate newcomers will continue to degrade.

Across the developed world, mass migration is undermining native-born citizens’ quality of life and sparking a global anti-immigration backlash. Instead of insisting that these concerns are racist conspiracy theories, defenders of mass migration would do well to take them seriously.

The best outcome for the United States, in the closing stretch of a presidential campaign, would be to engage in a real discussion about these questions, which the Left is intent on avoiding. For them, mass migration is a potential source of patronage and votes, best cultivated surreptitiously. But the country at large must grapple with immigration, in all its complexity. The nation’s future depends on it.

Christopher Rufo is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This article was originally published in City Journal.

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Here are resources for telling more accurate, nuanced immigration stories as elections loom

Mis- and disinformation around immigration persists, but journalists can help stop it.

Editor’s note: The following collection of immigration reporting resources, story ideas and examples is the fifth in a series of tip sheets for new and experienced journalists covering immigration at the local and community levels. This tip sheet series is made possible through funding from the Catena Foundation. You can read the entire collection here .

As I watched the recent presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, I was not surprised that immigration, Republicans’ go-to campaign bogeyman, came up time and again because recent polls show the topic is now a top concern for most Americans. 

Nor was I surprised by Trump’s repeated assertions that violent crime by undocumented immigrants “is through the roof,” that “millions of criminals, terrorists, common street people, and drug dealers” are pouring into the U.S., and “they are ruining our country.” At one point, the co-moderator interrupted to debunk Trump’s alarming claim that Haitian migrants are eating people’s pets in Springfield, Ohio. The Haitians are in the country through a special designation called Temporary Protected Status or other legal permission.  

Of course, anyone can cite specific examples of an undocumented person committing rape or murder, as Fox News host Sean Hannity did recently as he reported on a House Judiciary Committee hearing where family members of victims of crimes committed by undocumented people provided detailed testimony. As he spoke, alarming headlines flashed behind him on the screen: an 11-year-old girl murdered at home by an “illegal alien released into the country,” a 12-year-old assaulted and murdered by “two illegal aliens” from Venezuela, and others.

As horrific as these crimes are — whether migrants or nonimmigrants are responsible for them — research shows that undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes than U.S.-born Americans or naturalized foreigners. Prominent think tanks and research organizations like The Marshall Project ,  The Brennan Center and the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research have produced many credible reports with detailed data debunking the assertion. 

The authors of the Brennan Center report said: “The research does not support the view that immigrants  commit crime  or  are incarcerated  at higher rates than native-born Americans. In fact, immigrants might have less law enforcement contact compared to nonimmigrants. Focusing on the facts is imperative, especially given that immigration has become a  top issue  for voters ahead of the election.” 

Story idea : Journalists should familiarize themselves with these and other studies and mention them when reporting crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. This provides essential context to viewers and readers. 

Putting aside the subsequent flurry of news and fact-checking of claims made by both candidates at the debate, other recent developments and legal challenges to the administration’s immigration policies are worth following and reporting.  

Court halts parole program for some undocumented spouses and children  

One such action is a recent court’s decision to halt a Biden plan, known as Keeping Families Together, to provide work permits and protection from deportation to certain undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens. A few weeks after the program kicked off, 16 Republican-led states, including Texas, Florida and Ohio, sued the U.S. Justice Department to stop it. Although immigrant families who qualify can still apply for the program, the government has temporarily halted processing applications. 

The program would have offered a special immigration status known as parole to more than 500,000 qualifying immigrant spouses and children. 

Lawyers expect the Trump-appointed Texas federal judge hearing the case will extend the order when it soon expires.

Story idea: Interview some mixed-status immigrant families who filled out an application for Keeping Families Together in the first few weeks and were approved for the program. Talk to other people who are eligible but still need to be approved. You can find the families by checking with local immigration lawyers or legal services programs in your area.  

Homing in on refugee resettlement across the U.S.

Recent reports show that 84,271 refugees were admitted to the United States between October of last year and August of this year. People from other countries who arrive under “refugee” status are provided with work permits, social security numbers and other federal benefits. Until recently, it took months for refugees to receive their work documents, but the approvals now take just 30 days rather than months.

The U.S. State Department provides detailed information in this report about admitted refugees, including their country of origin and destination state in the U.S.

This data visualization from the American Council of Immigration is a treasure trove for journalists. It contains detailed information on refugee arrivals between 2002 and 2018. One interactive is a U.S. map showing refugees’ country of origin in 500 U.S. cities. 

The interactive map shows Antioch, Tennessee, as an example. In 2002, refugees arrived from Sudan, Serbia and Cuba; in 2018, they were from Congo and Bhutan. 

Here are some recent stories about the changing demographics in historically white communities; in some cases, migrants are welcomed, and in others, tensions arise. 

“Utah faces a labor shortage as refugee resettlement declines,” KUER 90.1 

“Ohio city with migrant influx is thrust into the political spotlight,” PBS Newshour

“The shelter and the storm,” about migrants in Norfolk, Massachusetts; The Washington Post

Story idea : Find your city on the data visualization map and interview immigrants by nationality about their adaptation to their local community and state. Where do they work, live, shop and are their children attending school? Are they learning English? Where do they go for healthcare? What do they find most confusing about U.S. cultural norms, practices and processes? Try to find out why they settled where they did. Did they have a choice of destination? 

Republican-led states lead efforts to restrict immigration

A new comprehensive report by the League of United Latin American Citizens, the country’s largest Latino civil rights organization, provides a detailed overview of restrictive legislative measures taken by states since 2020, with 223 proposed this year to address immigration and over 500 the last four years. 

The measures include criminalizing unauthorized entry into the U.S. at the state level and allowing local law enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws. Other measures would address non-citizen voting attempts and the hiring of undocumented workers. 

Texas was the first state to sign into law SB4 in 2023 to deport undocumented immigrants who cross into their state. The federal government has challenged the law in federal court, and its implementation is temporarily suspended .

Several other states — Iowa, Louisiana, Kansas and Oklahoma — have enacted similar laws , and Arizona voters will vote on Proposition 314 , that state’s version of the Texas law, in November. It is worth noting that Catholic bishops in Arizona recently issued a statement opposing the law, saying it will lead to “fear” and “harmful consequences.”

Story idea: Check to see what immigration proposals might be pending in your state and interview religious, civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups about them. Are they preparing to challenge any of the measures that pass? 

The human side of immigration 

Take a look at the following stories: 

“After 26 years, a Border Patrol agent has a new role: helping migrants,” USA Today

“Feds deploy surveillance blimp over busy smuggling corridors,” Border Report. 

“What We Learned When We Met With Our Latino Immigrant Readers In Person,” Documented. 

Story idea : How can you localize the first two stories for your readers and viewers? Is there someone in your community who once worked in immigration enforcement but is now volunteering to help migrant arrivals?  Can your publication host a town hall similar to the one in New York, where immigrants discuss their challenges? 

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