Immigrant Destinations Research Articles

Are ‘cultural omnivores’ more accepting of outgroup members? Survey findings from a new immigrant destination

A voluminous literature has shown that a wide range of individual and contextual factors are related to why some natives are more (less) accepting of the foreign-born population. In this study, we offer a novel concept in addressing this issue: omnivorous cultural consumption. We contend that those who are engaged in consumption behavior across multiple (including ‘highbrow’ and ‘lowbrow’) fields, i.e., cultural omnivores, are more open to immigrants—that they are more willing to accept them as friends, neighbors, and marriage partners. Using a large hierarchically nested dataset (N = 42,991) on native residents of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, we provide robust evidence in support of our argument. We also report the magnitude of the focal association between omnivorous cultural consumption and pro-immigrant attitudes (outgroup acceptance) to be higher among the better educated, high trustors, and those who identify themselves as politically more liberal.

New immigrant destinations and the role of the migration industry: Moving Filipino domestic workers to Mainland China

In recent years, while scholarly work on new immigrant destinations (NIDs) within the United States and Europe has increased, little attention has been given the role and significance of the migration industry in promoting the emergence of NIDs. This is a particularly significant lacuna as some Asian nations are undergoing dramatic migration transition despite the lack of immigration regulatory infrastructure. In this context, focusing on the role of commercial intermediaries play in the formation of NIDs is an important perspective in understanding migration transition in Asia. Drawing on qualitative interviews with Filipino domestic workers and intermediaries, this paper analyzes how intermediaries promote Mainland China as a new destination for the Filipino domestic workers by creating a new promising market, border-crossing tactics, as well as managing migrant workers using training and control strategies at ground level.

El desafío del multiculturalismo:una visión desde las políticas de integración cultural y la experiencia del Sello Migrante en la comuna de Quilicura

La migración es hoy un fenómeno que se ha convertido en una cues- tión pública, que preocupa a gobiernos, instituciones y a la ciudadanía. El creciente escenario migratorio que se vive hoy en el ámbito internacional y, en particular en Chile, presenta el desafío cultural de la integración de múltiples y diversas culturas, formas de vida, costumbres y modos de relacionarse en las sociedades receptoras. En el presente artículo, se realiza una revisión teórica del estado en que se encuentra el estudio de las políticas públicas de integración cultural y se analiza el caso del Sello Migrante en la comuna de Quilicura. Dicha comuna se ha convertido en uno de los principales destinos de acogida para inmigrantes en la Región Metropolitana, dinamizando el panorama cultural y social diario de la población. Bajo esta pers- pectiva, resulta pertinente ahondar sobre las medidas que se están adoptando en el ámbito local para hacer frente al reto del multiculturalismo.

Using the social ecological model to identify challenges facing Latino immigrants.

New Latino immigrant populations face challenges and barriers when arriving in new immigrant destinations. To better understand the challenges faced by Latino immigrants in a new immigrant destination by using the Social Ecological Model. This study solicited the perceptions of key informants and Latino immigrant participants through qualitative data collection methods to understand how to address and decrease barriers to healthcare services and community resources. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with two groups of respondents: 13 key informants and 30 Latino immigrants. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and categorized based on the Social Ecological Model. Themes identified at the individual and interpersonal levels of the Social Ecological Model include fear of deportation and stress. Themes at the community level include cultural differences, discrimination, and a lack of exposure of the majority community to Latino immigrants. At the system level, researchers identified language barriers, the cost of healthcare, and housing. At the policy level, researchers identified legal status and occupational exploitation as challenges for this community. Understanding the challenges faced by Latino immigrants requires multi-level interventions to address barriers that prevent new immigrants from accessing community resources.

The reception and integration of refugees from Ukraine in Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary – the New Immigration Destinations of Central Europe

The reception and integration of refugees from Ukraine in Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary – the New Immigration Destinations of Central Europe

“Why Can’t We Have Some Kind of Unity?” Cultural Contention Amongst Puerto Rican and Black Residents in Southern Suburbia

This study examines Puerto Rican-Black intergroup relations in Poinciana, Florida, a new immigrant destination in the suburban south led by the country’s largest homeowners association. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with 47 residents, I interrogate interpersonal relationships, feelings of belonging, and how residents’ lack of sociopolitical agency contribute to perceptions of intergroup relations. Past research evidences both coalition and tensions between Puerto Rican and Black co-residents, including shared marginalization experiences leading to increased coalition, or economic competition leading to contention. As migration to new immigrant destinations continues to rise, this study suggests minoritized groups may hold discordant conceptualizations of their relationship, what I refer to as “cultural contention.” While Puerto Ricans describe a shared sense of marginalization and unity with their Black neighbors, Black residents express concerns over displacement. With the precarious status of the community, there are few opportunities for residents to coalesce, and further fragmentation is possible.

Acculturation attitudes and adaptation among South Korean residents in Japan: The mediating role of coping strategies

Acculturation processes and intergroup experiences of minority groups have been little studied in East Asian societies, including Japan. The number of migrants in Japanese society is steadily increasing, suggesting that the country is a new immigration destination in the 21st century. Therefore, further research on the acculturation processes of immigrants in Japan is warranted. This study examined the relationships among acculturation attitudes, coping strategies, and psychological adjustment in a sample of South Korean newcomers living in Japan. The results of this study support the integration hypothesis, which states that balanced acculturation attitudes that favor engagement in both the host and home cultures lead to higher levels of psychological and sociocultural adaptation. Assimilation attitudes did not contribute significantly to adaptation. Different coping strategies employed by individuals during interethnic discrimination mediated the links between individual acculturation attitudes and the two aspects of adaptation. By linking acculturation attitudes and relevant social behaviors, this study sheds light on the role of coping strategies as mediators of the relationships between acculturation attitudes and psychological and sociocultural adjustment in ethnic minority groups.

From global to regional? New realities of international migration to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Commentary on “Buenos Aires. From successful city/nation-building to fragmented amalgamation” by Marcelo Cavarozzi

ABSTRACT In “Buenos Aires. From successful city/nation-building to fragmented amalgamation”, Marcelo Cavarozzi details the connection between immigration and the construction of Buenos Aires as a global city. Cavarozzi analyzes the evolution of economic segregation in Buenos Aires by describing how the spatial order that separated the city centre from its surrounding areas developed. This commentary takes over where Cavarozzi’s paper ends and describes the changing composition of the immigrant population of Buenos Aires since the 1970s in comparison to U.S. cities. The growth of the Latin American population and the decline in immigration from other areas have resulted in a high degree of specialization of international migration to Buenos Aires, transforming the city from a global to a regional immigrant destination. Buenos Aires has also experienced changes in the national origin of immigrant flows with important differences between the Capital Federal and Gran Buenos Aires.

Impact of COVID-19 on Unaccompanied Immigrant Minors and Families: Perspectives from Clinical Experts and Providers

ABSTRACT The number of unaccompanied immigrant minors (UIMs) and families from Central America seeking asylum in the U.S. continues to rise. This growth, combined with restrictive government policies, led to crowded and suboptimal conditions in Customs and Border Patrol and non-governmental organization facilities. COVID-19 further taxed facilities and exacerbated uncertainty surrounding length of detention, basic human rights, and family reunification. The current project features testimonies from the authors who work as clinical experts and providers in Texas – a top destination for Central American immigrants. In collaboration with a deputy director of a not-for-profit human rights organization, volunteer psychologists, and the director of a humanitarian respite center, we describe challenges faced by administrators and clinical staff in addressing the mental health needs of immigrant children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary themes identified were anti-immigrant policies that occurred concurrently with COVID-19; difficulty implementing COVID-19 protocols alongside scarcity of supplies and volunteers; increased mental health needs among UIMs and immigrant families; and challenges in UIM placement upon release from custody. Strategies for addressing clinical challenges in the near- and long-term and opportunities for improvement in care systems to immigrant youth, including correcting anti-immigrant policies, addressing ongoing COVID-19 protocols and challenges, meeting mental and physical health needs, facilitating release and reunification for unaccompanied immigrant minors, and maximizing youth resilience through trauma-informed interventions, are presented.

Digital Ethnic Enclaves: Mate Preferences and Platform Choices Among Chinese Immigrant Online Daters in Vancouver

In light of the growing racialized immigrant population in Canada and advances in dating technologies, this study examines Chinese immigrants' partner preferences and mate selection processes through the lens of online dating. We draw on in-depth interviews with 31 Chinese immigrants who have used online dating services in Metro Vancouver to search for different-sex partners. Chinese immigrant online daters show strong preferences for dating Chinese. They emphasize permanent residency status and similarity in age at arrival when evaluating potential partners. Given their preferences, Chinese immigrants strategically choose the dating platforms they primarily use. Men exhibit higher selectivity in their preferences and choices of platforms. Notably, platforms catering to Chinese users create "digital ethnic enclaves" where Chinese immigrant daters congregate. The findings illuminate the intersection of race, gender, immigrant status, and age at arrival in shaping divergent experiences of mate selection and immigrant assimilation in the digital era.

Racial and gender stereotypes in immigration attitudes: evidence from China

ABSTRACT How do racial and gender stereotypes affect immigration attitudes? Studies on this topic have focused primarily on developed rather than developing countries. To close the gap, we explore the phenomenon in China, a developing economy that is evolving from a source of emigration to a destination of immigration with its citizens having little direct experience with immigrants. Via two waves of survey experiments with over 4,000 respondents, we find that gender cues of female immigrants increase public approval of immigration and liberal immigration policies, while racial cues of Black immigrants discourage them. Further analysis reveals that gender bias is likely the product of sociopsychological concerns over cultural threats and that racial bias stems from concerns over public safety. Our findings contribute to the literature on the racial stratification and discrimination of immigrants in the context of developing countries.

Process and Outcome of Community Engagement Event on Substance Use and Addiction Risks Facing Their Immigrant Communities in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Canada is a significant destination for immigrants who are drawn from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds some of whom have a hidden risk for substance use disorders due to acculturation stress and are not screened for risks of substance use or addiction when considering medical admissibility. Not surprisingly, healthcare providers in Regina are reporting a noticeable increase in substance use among immigrants. These immigrants experience barriers in seeking substance use prevention and treatment services due to diverse challenges: stigma, shame, and lack of knowledge of existing services. Considering the discussed challenges and risks of substance use disorders in immigrant communities, creating a safe space for discussing these topics is urgent. To understand and address these challenges, a connection grant from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) to mobilize immigrant communities in Regina to explore substance use issues and their impact on the community was sought and received. Subsequently, a Zoom knowledge-sharing event brought settlement agency stakeholders together to deliberate issues on substance use and addiction faced by immigrants in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Zoom session included presentations on immigrants and substance use from the clinical, community, and lived experience perspectives of immigrants. Because of the challenges and risks, this community consultation process revealed that acculturation stress and the ease of obtaining socially acceptable substances fuel substance use and addiction among immigrants in Regina; this is further exacerbated by the lack of programming available to prevent and reduce the risks of substance use in this population. A team of knowledge keepers with lived experiences, service providers, and researchers was assembled to explore substance use and addiction among immigrants. This manuscript reports the process of community engagement to identify solutions to this budding issue. The strengths, challenges, and lessons learned are identified.

CONNECTING ARTFULLY TOWARD PROMOTING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF IMMIGRANT WOMEN IN CANADA: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Although Canada is a popular destination for immigrants, studies of the mental health of immigrant women in Canada have shown some of migration’s potential negative impacts. These studies also showcase how social support through community engagement can improve and maintain mental health by reducing immigrant women’s hopelessness and boosting their resilience. Additionally, because it promotes self-expression and self-confidence, engagement with art can be beneficial for health outcomes. Community arts programs serve as a space for creating artworks and exchanging social support and can have a positive psychological influence on participants. For instance, community arts programs can facilitate participants’ self-expression and the development of new friendships and artistic skills. Despite the existence of diverse community arts programs across Canada, there are few Canadian-focused scholarly studies investigating how engagement with these programs may contribute to participants’ mental health. In this paper, I investigate the association between engagement with art and its mental health–related outcomes among immigrant women in Canada. To explore this relationship, I provide a review of the scholarly literature on artmaking and mental health among immigrant women in Canada and assess how community art programs may impact their mental health by offering opportunities for social support exchanges. This paper argues that community art programs foster space for promoting mental health among immigrant women, and provides suggestions for researchers, mental health professionals, settlement service providers, and policy-makers in the field of migration.

Using the PDCA cycle to uncover sources of mental health disparities for Hispanics.

The Hispanic population is growing rapidly in U.S. rural states, yet limitations in Spanish-speaking behavioural health providers are a barrier to accessing care. In Montana, a new immigrant destination, mental health disparities may not yet be fully understood. We describe an interprofessional approach of nurses and engineers using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle to identify disparities in mental health access in a Hispanic community in a rural state. We recruited a community advisory board to inform researchers about potential disparities and to design interventions. The Plan phase consisted of naming the problem and its root causes. Researchers and a community advisory board created flowsheets and diagrams to uncover personal, environmental, political, and procedural contributors to poor mental health outcomes. The Do phase included implementation of a community screening for depression and anxiety. The Check phase revealed 43 mental health screenings where 21% screened positive for depression and 16% screened positive for anxiety. We made 16 referrals to a mental health intervention study. The Act phase led to plans for regular implementation of the health fairs and a study designed to provide Spanish-language mental health services. The success of our interprofessional work provides an example of how the PDCA cycle can be used to uncover potential causes for poor health outcomes and design and evaluate interventions targeted to mitigate those outcomes.

THE MIGRANT CRISIS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA 2015-2020 - CASE STUDY OF GREECE AND LIBYA

The issue of uncontrolled migration to the European Union through the Mediterranean Sea is a phenomenon that has been with members of the com-munity for many years. In this article, the authors have analyzed the migration crisis between 2015 and 2020 in the context of two countries - Greece and Libya. The former was the most common transit route and destination for illegal immi-grants during the study period. Tens of thousands of people are still living on its territory, awaiting asylum or the possibility to travel to another EU country. In contrast, Libya (like Turkey) is regarded by migrants as the “door to a better world,” and it is through Libya that the main Central Mediterranean route passes. The sea route across the Mediterranean is chosen by citizens of both Middle East-ern and African countries.

Skin Tone and Mexicans’ Perceptions of Discrimination in New Immigrant Destinations

Colorism literature examines how skin tone—alongside prototypical group features and hairstyles—correlates with socioeconomic, health, and political outcomes. Yet few studies have explicitly operationalized how skin tone shapes Latinos’ experiences of racialization in “new” U.S. destinations. Here, we draw on a large, representative sample of Mexican immigrants (N = 500) living in two large metropolitan areas (Atlanta and Philadelphia) to investigate how skin tone shapes their perceptions about the frequency and sources of discrimination. Even after controlling for demographic, economic, and immigration–specific factors, including ethnoracial self–identification, we show darker skin tone is significantly associated with higher reports of racial discrimination, discrimination specifically from U.S.-born Whites, and a stronger tendency to struggle internally in response. Together, these results support colorism literature’s argument that skin tone is distinct from race and offer new insights into how skin tone shapes the lived experiences of Mexican immigrants outside the U.S. Southwest.

La migración china en República Dominicana: 1862–1961

La migración china en República Dominicana: 1862–1961

Migracionnaya politika Senegala v ramkah EKOVAS

This article is devoted to the analysis of one of the most interesting countries from the point of view of studying migration, Senegal, in the context of its stay and activities within the framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). By the present stage of history, the situation has developed in such a way that it is Senegal that is one of the most important states supplying emigrants (mainly for the countries of the European Union) and, at the same time, one of the most attractive immigration destinations for citizens of other African states, including the members of ECOWAS. For many, the territory of the country is just a transit point on the way to other countries of the global North. In this paper we will try to outline the history of the problem, its main characteristics, problematic issues and ways to resolve them.

Guyanese Immigration, Homeownership, and Crime in Schenectady, NY: 2000–2017

The immigrant-crime relationship remains among the most intensely debated and contentious public policy concerns. In contrast to hypotheses under social disorganization theory and consistent with hypotheses under the immigrant revitalization perspective, most studies find the relationship of percent foreign-born with crime to be nonsignificant at the neighborhood level. Previous research focuses mostly on the importance of overall immigration or Latino immigration specifically in large immigrant destinations. The current study extends research on the immigrant-crime relationship to a non-Latino group in a smaller city by examining the relationship of Guyanese immigration with crime in neighborhoods within Schenectady, NY. We also investigate the association of homeownership with crime, which has received little explicit attention in the immigration-crime literature. Consistent with previous research, we find no significant association between percent Guyanese and crime. We find a negative and significant relationship between homeownership and crime. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.

More immigrants, less death: An analysis of immigration effects on county‐level drug overdose deaths, 2000–2015

AbstractPublic and political discourse has routinely suggested that immigration is linked to higher community levels of violence and drug problems. In contrast to these claims, research has consistently shown that immigration is not associated with greater violence at the macro level. However, few studies have examined the links between immigration flows and community drug problems. The current study seeks to address this gap in research by providing a county‐level longitudinal analysis of immigration and drug overdose deaths both overall and by substance type for the 2000 to 2015 period and provides an analysis of homicide for comparison with prior immigration–crime research. In addition, this analysis compares immigration–overdose relationships across immigrant destination types. The current project relies on overdose and homicide data drawn from the Centers for Disease Control's Restricted Access Multiple Cause of Death Mortality files combined with data on county social, economic, health, and legal contexts drawn from multiple macro‐level data sources. Findings reveal that immigration is not associated with higher levels of overdose or homicide deaths, and when effects are significant, immigration is linked to lower levels of overdose mortality across multiple substances and destination types.