Prospective Migrants Research Articles

The Migration Experience of New York Puerto Ricans: A Perspective on Return

Prospective return migrants to Puerto Rico and prospective permanent residents in New York are examined with respect to a number of factors that relate to their return migration choice, such as ties with Puerto Rico and visits back to the island. Although the significance of the study is reduced by the small sample used, the important question raised of how to identify prospective return migrants should certainly stimulate further research. In fact, the possibility of having migrants as carriers of social change in the areas to which they return could lead to effective transformation of the underdeveloped regions originating emigration. Therefore, careful training of, and planning for, return migrants should be a concern of governmental and private agencies in both the country to which the migrants come and to which they return.

Chain Migration Ethnic Neighborhood Formation and Social Networks

Migration is patently more complex than that merely mechanical reshuffling of heads which is assumed by crude economic push-pull models. Numerous contemporary studies in Africa, Asia and Latin America pay attention to the sociological factors involved in induction of manpower into growing economies. This paper draws attention to the possibilities of illuminating current problems by historical studies. The vast documentary material on the sociology of and labor force reorganization in the past in Europe and North America is largely neglected by current studies. From the standpoint of organization, may occur in several ways. Among these are two contrasting extremes: chain migration and organized migration.l Chain can be defined as that movement in which prospective migrants learn of opportunities, are provided with transportation, and have initial accommodation and employment arranged by means of primary social relationships with previous migrants. Chain is thus distinct from impersonally organized

Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration

The Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration held its fifth session at Geneva from April 16 to 24, 1953. Representatives were present from 21 of the 22 member governments, and several non-member governments and agencies sent observers. The subcommittee on finances reported that gross income had amounted to $26,114,357 in 1952, and gross expenditures totaled $19,446,549, leaving a budgetary surplus of $6,667,808. Reimbursements for movements completed in 1952 had been “most satisfying”, but it was anticipated that a slower rate of reimbursement would prevail in 1953, and that additional funds would therefore be required. The subcommittee also re-ported that between February 1, 1952, and December 21, 1952, 77,626 persons, among them 31,226 refugees, had been moved from Europe. The Director, Mr. Hugh Gibson, reported the following developments in the activities of ICEM: 1) provision had been made for training building laborers in Italy destined to migrate to Brazil (in collaboration with the Brazilian and Italian governments and the International Labor Organization), and for a number of preselection projects; 2) in Greece, in collaboration with UNESCO, a language training program for prospective migrants to Australia had been initiated; 3) Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Venezuela were making “definite progress” in the area of land resettlement; and 4) other projects of a “technical nature” were being considered. The fifth session also studied a draft constitution for the Committee which had been prepared by the Director at the request of the fourth session. The delegates concluded that eventual acceptance of the constitution by member governments would give the Committee “more stability and an anticipated life span of from three to five years”, and decided to refer the draft agreement to governments for comment before the next session of ICEM.